Cumberland County Assessor of Property David Simcox was born in Rockwood. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he was a member of the Moccasin football team. He has been married to wife Michele for over 43 years.

David and Michele Simcox

He served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, and has a widely-varied resume. He has been a teacher and educational administrator, a Farm Bureau Insurance agent, the human resource director for two manufacturing plants, a real estate agent, and the owner or co-owner of two office supply companies.

He was elected property assessor in 2008, and his hobby is real estate development, when time permits.

1. First job:

As a teen, my first job was as a Kern’s bread man on Howard Hick’s bread route from Rockwood to Crossville. I delivered bread, cakes and ice cream to the plateau area during the bean picking days, where the Gunter’s, Hale’s and Dooley’s stores had all you needed.

My parents’ farm was near the Rockwood golf course, where all my brothers and I took cheap caddying money from the likes of Crossville leaders Paul Shanks, Louis Bohannon, Benton Bilbrey, Carl Sutton and others. It was good money in those days – 30 cents for nine holes, and if we doubled, we got 60 cents. If we stole a ball or two during our child labor efforts, we could get a cold drink and a pack of Goobers. Those were the good ole days.

2. What I like about my current job:

The challenge of being in a professional position in county government, where I can absolutely be fair and equitable, without reservation, in dealing with our 68,000 parcel owners and their taxing responsibilities.

3. When not working, I am:

When I’m not working, I’m working! First, I am married, which explains working. Michele and I are blessed with two healthy grand boys. I have eight brothers and sisters and now that my mother and father are gone, I enjoy very much my relationship with them.

4. Something most people don’t know about me:

I don’t like politicians or politics very much.

5. Favorite movie and why:

I don’t watch movies very much, but when I do, a good history or cowboy movie does just fine.

6. Favorite food:

I grew up on a farm. I really like red meat, beans, taters, cornbread and a tall glass of cow’s milk that will stain the glass. When Michele is not cooking, a good fried bologna sandwich from Caruthers’ on Lantana road makes me smile and kick up my heels.

7. As a child, I thought I would grow up to be:

A coal miner and logger, “like my daddy.”

8. What I watch on TV:

Very little. A good “knock-down, spit-on” football game, when I can find one.

9. A person from history I’d love to meet:

I sure would have liked to have been at the Alamo and hung out with Crockett, Bowie and Houston in their heyday.

10. I’m most proud of:

The hard work that my mom and dad put into raising eight children, teaching sound character principles and firm discipline.

11. Advice to future generations:

I just gave it in number 10 above. Sound character principles and firm discipline are good for any generation.

12. My hero and why:

I don’t have a hero now. Most of the good ones are gone. I do find comfort, however, in my soldier friends who are trying to keep America strong.