Roll Call Tribute

Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Crematory obituary
Bryan, TX 77801
United States
Phone: (979) 822-3717
Email: cjones@callawayjones.com

Randy Sims

Sims. Randy
Retired Judge Arthur Randolph “Randy” Sims
July 31, 1939 – April 2, 2015

A longtime member of the community and former public servant died Thursday morning surrounded by family. Former Brazos County Judge Randy Sims died following a brief illness; he was 75. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be at 11am, Monday, April 6 at Grace Bible Church on Anderson in College Station. Cremation services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Crematory.

He was born to William Arthur and Augusta Randolph Sims on July 31, 1939 in Houston, Texas. He was a vibrant part of this community and truly loved his Brazos Valley roots. For decades, Randy served the community, both on the Bryan City Council and also as a County Commissioner before being elected County Judge. He was also a local business owner, running a barbecue restaurant from the mid-1960s until the early 1990s. Randy was an Aggie football standout, a long-time holder of the Southwest Conference record for a field goal kick of 52 yards.

He met the love of his life Brenda Bryan and married on May 14th in 1960, together they raised two children. Randy cherished family time and quickly learned how to balance out his career to spend quality time with his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife Brenda Sims, his son Randy Jr. and his wife Amy, his daughter Diana and her husband Clay Younts, his sister Reba, and nine grandchildren: Bryan, Kacey, Stacy Jo and husband Brian, Kimber, Katie, Travis, Mary Faith, and Gracie.

His family request that memorial donations be given to Brazos Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Brazos Valley Young Life.
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(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) April 3, 2015

Randy Sims, former Brazos County Judge passed away Thursday, April 2, 2015 at The Waterford in College Station. Services are set for 11 a.m. Monday at Grace Bible Church in College Station with a reception following at the church.
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(Published in) The (Bryan-College Station) Eagle (on) April 3, 2015

Former Brazos County Commissioner Randy Sims remembered for devotion to public service

By Jordan Overturf jordan.overturf@theeagle.com

Randy Sims, who served 15 years as a Brazos County commissioner and eight years as county judge, died Thursday in a College Station care facility, according to family and friends.

Sims battled dementia for about five years and spent the past year living at The Waterford memory care facility.

"His death was very peaceful. It was like I prayed it would be," said Brenda Sims, wife of the late judge.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. on Monday at Grace Bible Church in College Station, with a reception to follow.

Sims was born on July 31, 1939, in Houston. His sister, Reba Sims, said on Thursday that she had a great older brother who, like his father, loved hunting and fishing.

Sims attended high school in Austin, where he met his bride-to-be Brenda. The two were engaged after six dates and moved to College Station together in 1958 so Sims could be a running back for Texas A&M. Sims set a field goal record in 1959, kicking a 59-yarder that bested the NFL record of 56 yards at the time.

After graduation, Sims and his wife opened Randy Sims Bar-B-Cue House in Bryan. The barbecue joint remained open for 27 years until 1991, when Sims decided the close the business to devote his time to another passion -- public service. Sims told The Eagle in a December 1991 article that he must have cooked "almost 3 million pounds of brisket."

While his friends contend that Sims' barbecue was great, it was his skills as a public servant that put him way ahead of his peers.

"I don't know anybody who has worked harder for Brazos County than Randy Sims," said Al Jones, who was Sims' predecessor as county judge. "Randy was every bit of a conservative and a quality individual."

Brenda Sims said her husband saw the growth potential for Bryan in the early 1970s and was encouraged by friends to run for office.

"He truly was a servant of Brazos County," said Brenda, who spenty 54 years of marriage supporting her husband's passions. "Randy always had an open door. He would listen to everyone's ideas. It was easy for him to serve. That was his heart," Brenda said.

Sheriff Chris Kirk, who has served Brazos County for 34 years, said Sims was good at everything he did. Kirk described Sims as a fair county judge and commissioner who had a talent for bringing people together.

"He was always moving the city and county ahead when he was at the table," Kirk said. "It's tragic to lose a good friend and former elected official."

Sims' tenure as county judge during construction of the Brazos County Expo stands as a major legacy, though Kirk and Jones said there were too many projects that Sims influenced to name just one legacy.

"He was always great working with the road and bridge department," Jones said. "He was great at barbecuing, but I would put his public service way ahead of anything else he did."