Robert “Bob” Simper

ROBERT (BOB) SIMPER, JIMTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, 1945

Bob was one half of the famed Simper twins, who helped propel the Jimmies to the 1945 Elkhart basketball Sectional Title and a Regional upset of Culver, prior to losing the regional title game to powerful South Bend Riley. The Jimmies beat Middlebury and Nappanee in the sectional before facing No. 17 ranked EHS which boasted a 17-3 record. The mark included 13 straight home victories and an earlier 38-23 win over the Jimmies. But the ’45 Jims were not intimidated, leading all the way in a 41-28 victory. Bob scored 15 points in the 1945 championship, hitting 6 of 9 from the field, including five long two-hand set shots. He was named to the all-sectional team for the second year in a row and was all-regional as a senior. He was on the basketball team three years for the Jimmies and also competed for three years in baseball and two in track.