John Roger Simms, 58, Daytona Beach News-Journal

 

DAYTONA BEACH , FL (May 5) - John Roger Simms, 58, a staff photographer for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, died Thursday at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center after a short battle with cancer. He joined the paper in 1980 and worked for more than two decades for the News-Journal, most recently in the Southeast Volusia bureau.

Even after two decades, Simms was still competitive. News-Journal editor Don Lindley told staff that shortly after learning of Simms' death on Thursday, he was advised that Simms had won an award in the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors' annual contest. "I always enjoyed talking with him about our shared interest in journalism," Lindley told the paper, "and he was usually blunt, and often very insightful."

A memorial service is being planned. Simms, who lived in Port Orange, FL, was an NPPA member since 1996. He is survived by his wife, Reba; their son, John; and two brothers and two sisters.

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