Quick Facts
Biography
Simon Woodson Tudor (November 5, 1887—May 10, 1956) was a prominent educator, businessman, church and civic leader, and philanthropist in the central Louisiana city of Pineville in the first half of the twentieth century.
Background
Tudor was born in Madison County, Kentucky, to James A. Tudor and the former Malinda Alice Turner. He was educated first at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. He then relocated to Pineville, which is located east of the Red River from the larger city of Alexandria.
Tudor received his bachelor's degree in 1913 from Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville. While he attended Louisiana College, he was also the athletic director and the football, basketball, and baseball coach from 1910 to 1913 and again, after his graduation, from 1914 to 1917. He coached at the Methodist-affiliated Centenary College in Shreveport in 1912. He taught school in Vernon Parish from 1913 to 1914. He concluded his brief educational career as a principal in Pineville public schools from 1917 to 1920.
On September 21, 1913, Tudor married the former Frances Ollie Beall (1894–1992), the daughter of William Columbus Beall and the former Sarah Frances Curry. They had a son, Robert Beall Tudor, Sr. (1914–1987), and a daughter, Dorothy Louise Tudor. Tudor's grandson Michael Simon Tudor (born 1945) is an attorney who has been active in the leadership of the Republican Party in Rapides Parish. Another grandson, Robert Beall "Buddy" Tudor, Jr., expanded the family construction business statewide after he graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Business and philanthropy
In 1920, Tudor entered the real estate business, both residential and commercial buildings. In 1946, he founded his Tudor Construction Company and served as the company president until his death.
Tudor was a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Pineville and a member of the Louisiana College trustess from 1941 until his death. He was the trustees president from 1943 to 1953. A generous benefactor to the college, Tudor was honored by the naming of the men's dormitory "Tudor Hall".
Tudor thereafter donated twenty-seven acres of land to Louisiana College for several construction projects undertaken during the administration of LC president G. Earl Guinn.
Tudor is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.