University of Missouri Athletics

A hurdler from Bosworth, Missouri, Simpson lettered at MU in 1915-16-17. As a Tiger sophomore, he set the world record in the 120-yard high hurdles (14.3 seconds). He also set the Missouri Valley Conference mark in the long jump at 23 feet, 6-3/4 inches. He later coached MU’s track and field team from 1920-26, with the Tigers winning the conference championship in 1925. A member of the Drake Relays Hall of Fame, Simpson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1963.