College Station City Manager Frank Simpson died Saturday afternoon of an apparent heart attack.
Fire Chief R.B. Alley says an ambulance and fire engine responded to a call shortly before 3 p.m. to the Simpson’s home. On arrival it was determined Simpson was in cardiac arrest. CPR that was being done was handed over to the firefighter/EMT’s. Simpson was transported to College Station Medical Center where Alley said Simpson continued to get worse. Simpson, who was 48, passed away at 3:49 p.m.
Alley said Simpson had been outside doing yard work in the Saturday heat and humidity when he began feeling bad. Simpson went inside and had sat down to cool off when he had the apparent heart attack. The fire chief said Simpson’s wife made the 911 call.
Simpson and his wife, Kelly, have three children.
Services are pending.
Mayor Nancy Berry issued the following statement: “We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Frank’s passing. While he had only recently started his tenure as City Manager, Frank’s passion for this community was evident every day. He will be sorely missed by our council and staff, and all who knew and worked with him. Our prayers are with his family at this time.”
Simpson was named City Manager March 28 after serving as interim for slightly more than two months following the retirement of David Neeley.
Simpson returned to College Station in 2011 as a Deputy City Manager after working in various administrative capacities between 1989-1993.
Mayor Pro-Tem Karl Mooney said Simpson had reached his destination job, adding “This was the one that he was hoping to be here until retirement. And we were looking forward to it.” Mooney went on to say “When you lose somebody the quality of Frank Simpson, you lose a little bit of the pulse of the community. And Frank had really embraced this community…and had poured himself with passion into the numerous projects that we have going on in this city.”
Mooney says it’s up to the council to “fulfill those things that were still on his (Simpson’s) bucket list”, which included the Kyle Field expansion, the new Scott & White hospital and adjacent municipal management districts, the biocorridor, and new developments along University.
Alley said this was Simpson’s “dream job, to work here in College Station, and it resonated from him each and every day when he came to work. I was really looking forward to working with him for many years in the future.”
R.B. Alley visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Karl Mooney visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Simpson began his career in municipal government as a College Station Utilities employee in 1986 while attending Texas A&M.
Simpson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1988 and a master’s in public administration from A&M in 1990.
In between his two tours of duty in College Station, Simpson was City Manager in Missouri City from 2004-2011, City Manager in Webster from 2001-2004, City Manager in Center from 1995-2001, and Assistant City Manager in LaMarque from 1994-1995.
Deputy City Manager Kathy Merrill becomes acting City Manager.
It’s the second time a College Station City Manager has died. William “King” Cole, who was hired in 1985, died in 1988 at the age of 42.