Junious Simon was a 1964 graduate of Kashmere Gardens Junior Senior High School. He was an outstanding student-athlete in basketball, coached by the legendary Weldon Drew. Known as “Sleepy”, a nick name that was given to me during my formative years, my friends still to this day call me “Sleepy” I was very fortunate to have two coaches in my early life that imparted values and life lessons that set a pattern to follow for a lifetime. Coach Weldon Drew taught us class; he carried himself in such a manner that the team members did their best to emulate him at all times.
Junious’ senior season the Ram’s ran the table in the Houston area beating Phillis Wheatley to advance and represented Houston in the state tournament at Prairie View A&M University. This was an incredible accomplishment for Kashmere, after losing two starters at mid-term to graduation. Kashmere lost in a close battle to a much taller Beaumont Charlton Pollard team and finished as state runner-up. He ended his high school career being selected to the All District, All City and All State Basketball Teams. After graduation Sleepy accepted a basketball scholarship to Murray State JC in Tishomingo, Oklahoma and was coached by Gene Robinson. Coach Gene Robinson was all about hard work. These attributes have remained with me for my entire life. At Murray State Junious would continue to blossom into an outstanding all-around player, being selected to All Conference, All Region, and numerous All-Tournament Teams. His team was National Junior College Championship Runner Up. (Hutchinson, Kansas) After JUCO, Junious sign a basketball scholarship and finished up his collegiate career at the University of Hawaii coached by Ephraim “Red” Rocha. Sleepy would also play professional in Europe graduating from University of Hawaii. After received my Associates of Arts degree from Murray State, Bachelor’s degree (Journalism) from University of Hawaii, I followed my true passion. I enrolled at Le Cordon Rouge (Sausalito, California) Culinary School and became a certified chef. After 20 plus years of preparing food, today you may find me at Simon Catering of Houston.
