Apr 18, 2014 2 min read

George A. Simmons, who spent his life’s work enforcing state and federal laws to prohibit discrimination, will receive this year’s Human Rights Award from the NAACP Washington Branch at its annual banquet next month.

The dinner will be held 7 p.m. May 2 at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Meadow Lands.

Simmons, an alumnus of California University of Pennsylvania, currently serves as president of the Mon Valley NAACP and is a life member of the organization.

Simmons retired as regional director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission after 36 years. He helped direct efforts in 23 Western Pennsylvania counties through the Pittsburgh regional office.

“Mr. Simmons was motivated by the wise counsel of many elders, relatives and loving parents to dedicate his life’s work to the protection and enforcement of civil and human rights for all people,” a news release from the NAACP said.

Simmons also graduated from the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Va. He is a member of various law enforcement associations, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Prince Hall Mason, Golden Star Lodge 143, and the Monongahela Memorial library and cemetery boards.

Simmons has received several prestigious awards over the years including the FBI Louis Freeh Director’s Award for Community Service 2003; the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches Outstanding Community Service Award 2007 and the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service Lifetime Achievement Award 2012.

Deputy District Attorney Traci McDonald, special prosecutor in the Washington County district’s attorney office, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the dinner. Sen. Vincent J. Hughes will be the keynote speaker.

Reservations to attend the event can be made by calling Carolyn Dunklin at 724-222-7820.