Thomas Shirley Simons, Sr. (March 12, 1897 – August 1, 1963), commonly known as Shirley Simons was a prominent architect of Tyler, Texas. He was born in 1897 at Taylor, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Rice Institute in 1919 with a Bachelor of Science in architecture. He also served in the field artillery during World War I from September through November 1918.
After practicing with William Ward Watkin in Houston, Simons moved to Lufkin, Texas in 1922 where he established his own architecture practice. In the late 1920s, he moved his architectural practice to Tyler, Texas. He remained active as an architect in Tyler until his death in 1963. Shirley's three sons (T. Shirley Simons, Jr., Edwin Simons, and Watson Townes Simons) later joined his architectural practice.
A number of Simons' works, including the Tyler City Hall, San Augustine County Courthouse and Jail, and Austin Daily Tribune Building, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Works include (with attribution):
Bergfeld Park (tennis courts, amphitheater and restrooms), part of the Azalea Residential Historic District, 1400 Block South Broadway, Tyler, TexasRobert and Mattie Fair House (1937), 905 South Chilton Avenue, Tyler, Texas (part of the Azalea Residential Historic District) (Shirley Simons, Sr. and Allen Campbell)Hanson-Cooper House (1931), 312 E. Charnwood, Tyler, TexasW. Howard and Vera Bryant House (1951), 2212 South Chilton Avenue, Tyler, Texas (part of the Azalea Residential Historic District)Marvin United Methodist Church (1942 remodel and parsonage), 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, Texas, NRHP-listedThomas and Edna Pollard House (1935), 801 Troup Highway, Tyler, TexasRamey House (1935 interior remodel), 605 S. Broadway, Tyler, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedSt. Gregory Elementary School, 400 South College Avenue, Tyler, TexasSt. John's AF & AM Lodge, 323 W. Front Street, Tyler, Texas (Simons, T. Shirley Sr.), NRHP-listedShirley Simons Residence, 118 West Fourth, Tyler, Texas (part of the Azalea Residential Historic District)Tyler City Hall (1938), 212 N. Bonner Avenue, Tyler, Texas (Simons, T. Shirley, Sr.), NRHP-listedTyler Junior College original campus building planTyler Little Theatre (1939), 1014 W. Houston, Tyler, TexasTyler U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, aka William M. Steger U.S. Courthouse (1934), 211 W. Ferguson Street, Tyler, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedWhite House, aka The Castle (1929), 116 Lindsey Lane, Tyler, TexasWillow Brook Country Club, 3205 West Erwin Street, Tyler, TexasWitherup Home (1932), 212 West Dobbs Street, Tyler, TexasWoman's Building (1931), 911 South Broadway, Tyler, Texas (part of the Azalea Residential Historic District) (Shirley Simons, Sr., and Sam R. Hill)Angelina Hotel, West Shepherd and South First, Lufkin, TexasBowers-Felts House, 1213 Lotus Lane, Lufkin, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedBrookshire, Houston-Yeates House, 304 E. Howe Street, Lufkin, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedCentral Ward Grammar School, Lufkin, Texas (demolished)Everitt-Cox House (1922 remodel), 418 Moore, Lufkin, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedFirst National Bank Building, northeast corner of Lufkin Avenue and First Street, Lufkin, TexasKurth Memorial Library, Cotton Square facing Lufkin Avenue, Lufkin, TexasKurth Ward Grammar School, Lufkin, TexasPines Theatre, 113 South First Street, Lufkin, Texas, NRHP-listedSchool on South Raguet, Lufkin, TexasShands Gymnasium, Lufkin, Texas (demolished)Austin Daily Tribune Building (1941), 920 Colorado, Austin, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedHouston Museum of ArtNacogdoches High School Gym and Auditorium, Nacogdoches, TexasSan Augustine County Courthouse and Jail (1927), Courthouse Square, San Augustine, Texas (Simons, Shirley), NRHP-listedStephen F. Austin University campus expansion (classrooms, administration buildings, president's residence, library, auditorium and fine arts building, men's and women's dormitory), Nacogdoches, TexasThe Ashcroft House, 333 College Street, Sulphur Springs, TexasUniversity of Texas Student Health Center, Austin, Texas 
