Former Fort Worth school board member leaves a legacy of ‘believing in kids’
Friends and colleagues of longtime Fort Worth Independent School District board member Dr. T.A. Sims are remembering him for his tireless efforts to promote educational opportunities for the children of Fort Worth.
Sims died March 23 at the age of 88. He served for over 35 years as a school board member for the Fort Worth ISD from 1983 to 2019. He was the first African American to be elected president of the board.
“Fort Worth ISD mourns the loss of former Board of Education member Dr. T.A. Sims, whose decades of service helped shape the district and touched countless students, families, and staff,” a prepared statement from Fort Worth ISD said. “Dr. Sims represented District 4 for more than 35 years, and his legacy of leadership continues to be felt across Fort Worth ISD. We extend our sincere condolences to his loved ones and to the many members of the Fort Worth community who knew him and were impacted by his service.”
Friends and colleagues spoke of his advocacy for children’s education, his recognition of student athletes and his work ethic.
Former Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks said Sims was a strong voice at the table to advocate for children of color and ensure they received an excellent education and other opportunities. Every interaction a child has from the superintendent to a school’s custodian could have a lasting impact, which Sims knew, Brooks said.
“We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Brooks said. “Dr. Sims was significant in preparing the way forward for children in the Fort Worth ISD, and we should always remember, we should always respect, and we should always appreciate the contributions of those who went before us, who made it possible for us to have the opportunity to succeed.”
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey honored Sims on the House floor March 27.
“He really was someone who was a testament to believing in kids, faith, and built an amazing legacy during his tenure on the board,” Veasey said on the House floor. “He was a dear friend of mine, and we are going to miss him so much.”
Sims was a pharmacist and the owner of Sims Enterprises. A native of Jefferson, he had lived in Fort Worth for 23 years when he ran for office and was elected at age 43 to represent District 4, which includes 14 campuses, including Morningside Elementary and O.D. Wyatt High School.
He was driven to run for the board because he was concerned about his children's education. His three children attended Fort Worth schools. Sims aimed to enhance vocational education and support for low-achieving students. as well. One of his proudest accomplishments was creating the FWISD Scholar Athlete Award program.
School named for Sims
Sims graduated from Texas Southern University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Services. In 1984, he received his Doctor of Pharmacy Certification from the National Association of Retail Druggists. An elementary school, T.A. Sims Elementary School, in East Fort Worth, was named after him in 1989.
Christine Moss, a former FWISD school board member and the first African-American woman to serve as a school board president, served 29 years with Sims. She said Sims was a caring person who gave it his all to meet students' needs.
“He was very dedicated to education, and he was dedicated to the constituents that he served in District Four, and really across Fort Worth ISD,” Moss said.
Gwendolyn Morrison is a member of the Tarrant County College District board of trustees and said anyone who met Sims would be proud to say they knew him. He served the community with dignity and respect, and anyone who serves the community today can find inspiration through him, Morrison said.
“He was about making certain that others had that opportunity to serve and to achieve, to be outstanding students, to be outstanding teachers, to be outstanding principals, and to be outstanding people. And that was his uplifting mentality, and that's his greatest legacy,” Morrison said.
A visitation and wake are scheduled for Friday, April 10, beginning at 10 a.m., with the wake at 6 p.m. Sims' funeral will be held Saturday, April 11, at Carter Metropolitan CME Church, 4601 Wichita St. at 11 a.m.
