It was in his last boat, the Alligator, that Simmons first brought another entrepreneur named Charlie to the island. It was the energetic young Charles Fraser who would pioneer modern development and forever change the island. With the change, Simmons drove right on, though it was no longer on the waters that had been the Lowcountry's freeways since the Indians built oyster shell rings here. His transportation network had long included land vehicles, and that's where Simmons turned his attention after the bridge was built, slip- ping behind the wheel of 15-passenger vans, still crawling the Lowcountry loaded with supplies, people and the news.
Mr. Simmons was universally respected. It showed day in and day out, generation after generation. Future generations should remember this description of his father from Charles Simmons Jr.: "Work, work, work. That's all he did. His recreation was work." They should remember the investments that his entrepreneurship led to, bringing greater opportunity and personal holdings. They should remember his devotion to his church, where he would attend prayer meetings up to three nights a week. They should remember his big heart, always looking for ways to help his fellow man, more than ways to skin a nickel off him. They should remember his attention to detail, with his boats always passing U.S. Coast Guard inspections and his land transportation licensed like a Greyhound bus. They should remember his community involvement, with his sharp eyes always-on what the people needed. He shared his business acumen as readily as he shared his kerosene. Hilton Head Island was lucky to have Charlie Simmons, Sr. at the helm when change came to the Island.
