Chapter Member Spotlight - Eric & Gizell Simmons

Chapter Member Spotlight - Eric & Gizell Simmons

How long riding?
Eric started riding 45 years ago. Gizell started riding as a passenger in 2012.

Favorite ride?
Steamboat Springs to Loveland, CO in 2017 during the Rocky Mountain HOG Rally

Bucket list ride?
Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Ride the Outer Banks and visit Kitty Hawk.

How long in chapter?
7 years

What you like about the chapter?
Camaraderie, the interesting people, the rides, the friendships.

Rides we have taken?
Rocky Mountains, Key West Florida, Sturgis, Texas Hill Country, Ozark Mountains, Daytona Bike Rally.

Harley motorcycles owned?
Road King, Two Limited’s, and currently Road Glide CVO

HOG Chapter plans:
We would like to host a Chapter event at our home.

Employment?
Eric, Construction Manager for Central Control, Inc., which is a healthcare business with eight facilities in Louisiana. Mississippi and Arkansas for almost eleven years. Prior to that self-employed with Simmons Construction Co. Inc. Gizell, Accountant for First Baptist Church, Lafayette for over 24 years

General Info:
Eric and Gizell were high school sweethearts and graduated from Acadiana High in 1980. They will celebrate their 35th Anniversary this June. They have two grown children. Their son, Hunter, has been married for 12 years and has two sons. He finished at ULL in Mech. Engineering. Their daughter, Hannah, has been married for 3 ½ years and expecting their first child in May. She finished at ULL in Marketing.

Home life:
They live in Carencro and enjoy country living. Gizell loves keeping the grands overnight, they both like working
outdoors on their place. Eric likes cutting grass while Gizell gardens in the flowerbeds. They both enjoy
taking road trips. Eric’s hobbies include woodworking in the shop, tinkering, and repairing things.

Personal:
In 2012, Eric was diagnosed with an incurable and rare disease called AL-Primary Amyloidosis. This disease creates a rogue protein fiber that attacks his own organs. The past seven years has yielded over 20 surgeries, including a heart transplant in 2013 and a bone-marrow transplant in 2015. Through all of this, Eric has been blessed to continue his employment. He is currently going through eight weeks of chemo infusion to fight this disease and to prayerfully put him back in remission. This medical struggle has often sidelined Eric and Gizell from HOG activities, but they continue to make plans to achieve those trips on their bucket list!

By Yvonne Menard
Multimedia