Beaman Conrad High School - Trojan Yearbook (Conrad, IA)

Page 9 text:

mm m Q ' 'Al ' l- IN MEIVIORIAM The Staff is proud to dedicate the '48 Trojan to one of the memorable sons of Conrad High School. By his optimistic philosophy of life and his wholehearted desire to contribute something of beauty to his fellowmen he endeared himself to those who knew him and left last- ing memorials for enjoymentafter he was gone. We express sincere appreciation for the gift of The Band Concert , his painting of that event on the main street of Conrad. It will hang in the assembly hall of CHS and give pleasure to its observers for years to come K 1 4 t mimi

Page 11 text:

J. ED SIIVIMS J. Ed Simms was born on a farm near Beaman, Iowa, September 28, 1917. He attended the Conrad Consolidated School and was graduated with the class of '35. In '39, '40, and '41 he exhibited at the Art Salon at the Iowa State Fair. Grant Wood became interested in these exhibits and in the fall of '41, Wood invited Ed to enroll in S. U. I. and attend his art classes. Due to Wood's illness and death he received only a few lessons,'but they had a lasting influence ,in Ed's life. Wood encouraged him to paint what he knew most about: Iowa farms, fields, hills and streams. His paintings were acceptable and hung in Denver, in the Colorado Art Museum show in '42 and '43 and in the Joselyn Memorial Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a member of the Cedar Falls Art Association and sponsored several shows in the gallery ,in Cedar Falls. In August '46. he won top honors at the Iowa State Fair with his painting, Spring Plowing . This picture has been in the traveling exhibit since that time. A number of his paintings are in the home of his parents, and in the homes of his friends throughout the country. He passed away on September ZZ, 1946.