Ada DeBlanc Simond

Ada Simond (November 14, 1903 – October 23, 1989) was an American public health activist, historian, educator, and writer considered a community leader for her contributions to public health and African-American historical education. She was named to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1986.

Early life and education

Simond was born in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, in 1903. She is descended from French explorer Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. Her family ran a farm, raising rice, soybeans, and sugarcane.

In 1914, her family moved to Austin, Texas. She was only able to attend one semester of high-school but supplemented her learning by borrowing books from L. C. Anderson, who later went on to found the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas. Simond recalls that the Black children in Austin's segregated schools often relied on "old books discarded by white schools".

In 1922, Simond married Aubrey Askey. Their son, Gilbert Askey, became an arranger, composer, and producer for Motown Records. Their niece, Damita Jo DeBlanc, became an actress, comedian, and singer. Ada and Aubrey divorced in 1927.

In 1982, she was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Huston-Tillotson College.

Career

In 1942, Simond became a public health representative for the Texas Tuberculosis Association, traveling across the state to educate impoverished Texans about proper sanitation and other factors needed to combat tuberculosis. She served in this capacity for 25 years, and cites her efforts in training volunteers as one of her major contributions: "I was able to convince people that helping those less fortunate than themselves transcended financial gain. I left little armies of volunteers everywhere I went." Simond later helped to open a library in East Austin, where most African-Americans lived at that time.

Starting in 1977, Simond published a series of 6 children's book which explored the African-American experience in Austin. The books are narrated by a character named Mae Dee Lewis, whom Simond based on a childhood friend. Simond cites a desire to help children who were learning to cope with newly integrated Texan schools at the time.

In 1979 she co-founded the W. H. Passon Historical Society to help preserve and promote Black history in Austin. In 1980, she co-founded the George Washington Carver Museum which is located in a historical building that was originally the site of Austin's first Black library.

Awards and honors

In 1973, Simond received the Women in Communications, Inc, Banner Brunch award for her work with health and poverty In 1986, Simond received the Public Citizen of 1986 award from the National Association of Social Workers

She has also received the Black Heritage Award from the Austin Independent School District and the Human Relations Award from the Texas State Teachers Association. Let's pretend : Mae Dee and her family on a weekend in May : the second in a series of stories (1977, with Sarochin Shannon) Let's pretend : Mae Dee and her family join the Juneteenth celebration : the third in a series of stories (1978, with Sarochin Shannon) Let's pretend : Mae Dee and her family in the merry, merry season (1978, with Sarochin Shannon) Let's pretend : Mae Dee and her family and the first wedding of the year : the fifth in a series of stories (1979, with Sarochin Shannon) Let's pretend : Mae Dee and her family ten years later : the sixth and last in a series of stories (1980, with Sarochin Shannon) Looking back : a Black focus on Austin's heritage (1983)