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Document Type
Video
Abstract
Transcript and Executive Summary by Dr. Gordon Patterson.
This document is a transcript of an interview with John Simmons as part of the Florida Tech Pioneer Oral Histories series from 2007–2008. The interview, conducted by Robert Taylor, provides a detailed account of Simmons’ professional background and his crucial role as Florida Tech’s first Vice President for Financial Affairs. He discusses the university’s financial challenges and successes during a period of rapid growth, from his hiring in 1970 to his departure. Simmons recounts his professional journey from a mechanical engineering graduate to an R&D contracting officer who met representatives from Radiation Incorporated. He shares how his friendship with Florida Tech President Dr. Jerry Keuper led to his role at the university.
Simmons’s biggest challenge upon joining Florida Tech was the university’s unsound accounting practices, which were exacerbated by a student-run computer center. He implemented a new accounting system, hired professional staff, and worked to balance the budget during a time of immense growth. The interview highlights various revenue-generating initiatives, including auxiliary enterprises, gifts-in-kind such as boats and real estate, cable television billing, the Aerospace Technical Institute (now FIT Aviation), the Hydrospace Technical Institute, and a successful off-campus contract management program. Simmons also reflects on working with Dr. Keuper, the campus's transformation, and his lasting legacy at Florida Tech.
Publication Date
2007
Recommended Citation
Simmons, John and Taylor, Robert, "Florida Tech Pioneer Interview John Simmons" (2007). Oral History Videos. 16.
https://repository.fit.edu/oh_videos/16
Interview Transcript - Simmons