It’s fitting that the life of Dallas businessman Glenn Simmons, who died March 6 , was celebrated today in the sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas. Church pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress and others noted that Simmons, 85, was a committed church member and a leading figure in the $130 million First Baptist building project, which debuts officially on Easter Sunday. The biggest church construction program in history will include a new 3,000-seat worship center and a towering outdoor water fountain, among other things.
Today’s celebrants—a who’s who of prominent Dallasites including Gene and Jerry Jones—learned that Simmons, the brother of local billionaire Harold Simmons, was a particular fan of the water fountains at the Bellagio hotel-casino in Las Vegas. So, as a member of the First Baptist planning and development committee, Simmons urged a tall fountain be built at the church on St. Paul Street as well. Jeffress also disclosed, for the first time, that a prominent foyer in the revamped church would be named for Simmons and his widow, Dee.
