John E. Simmons
Awarded 2017
A 1968 finance graduate and member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, John Simmons began a career in real estate selling resort properties for the Belin Corporation at Hilltop Lakes. He quickly rose to be the leading sales associate and was recruited by Horseshoe Bay Resort, where he soon became one of their leading salesmen.
Following a move to Austin in 1973, Simmons transitioned from resort real estate to commercial real estate sales and brokerage and soon became partner in Paragon Properties. He then co-founded First Austin Properties, recognized as one of the major commercial brokerage companies in Austin in the early 1980s.
At the same time, he launched The Simmons Group, a real estate investment and development company, which developed the first Austin Executive Airport and Georgetown Aviation. In 1988, he co-founded Captex Development Company, one of the largest developers of mixed-use and residential subdivisions in the Austin area. The company later shifted its focus to the acquisition and ownership of office and industrial projects with buildings in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Minneapolis. He also invests in ranch properties, mostly in Texas and New Mexico.
Simmons lives on a 6,000-acre ranch in Burnet County, where he raises Brangus cattle and horses for ranch use and team roping, as well as quarter horses for racing. John is a Life Member of the SHSU Alumni Association.