Black History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate African American heritage and history, as well as its firsts. LynnSimon, who is 81, was the first Black person to be in the Lamar band.
“It was a long time ago,” Simon said. “I was not prepared for the challenges I would face. But I adjusted and overcame. I traveled with the band on the Dallas South Texas Tour. At this time, I wasn’t the only African American on that trip. We were required to have a separate dining room, we couldn’t eat with the rest of the band. We had to have different lodging, too. We may have been in the same hotel, but I can’t remember.”
Simon was a clarinet player in what was then Lamar Technical College’s in band 1961 and 1962. There he met former Lamar University president and fellow clarinetist Jimmy Simmons.
“I met Dr. Simmons when we were both in the band,” Simon said. “It was hard to adjust, but I found a good friend in Dr. Simmons and to this day we are still close.”
Being the ’60s, not every band member was happy for Simon to play with them, he said, adding that the only thing that kept him going was his musical ability and that he loved to play his instrument.
“It was very different from the way it is now,” he said. “Some people accepted me, and some didn’t care for me, but I didn’t give in. I had to learn how to adapt in situations, but also not to lose myself in the process. There was one time where I was told I had to cut my hair, my clarinet instructor had to make arrangements so that I could get a haircut.”
Segregation was enforced back then, but society has improved over the past 60 years, Simon said, and looking to the future, he hopes things will improve at a faster rate.
“I would hope to see things improve even more in the next 25 years or so,” he said. “Hopefully, things will be twice, if not three times, as better then. I hope to see some of that change.”
Simon offered a piece of advice for everyone.
“Really get into what your passionate about,” he said. “Do whatever it is to the best of your ability. You can’t do anything without employing your full potential. If you do it the right way, you’ll find great success.”