John & Debra Simon

    November, is of course, the month of Thanksgiving.  Every year in passing gives us all triumph and tragedy.  It isn't easy in times of peril to reach down deep and say thanks, but we must because saying thanks for our yesterdays gives us the wisdom, strength and optimism for our tomorrows. 

    This month's featured couple for Meet the Members is the team of Simon & Simon.  Nope, not the TV brother detectives, but our own John & Debra Simon.  In the 28 years of teamwork (marriage), the moniker of Simon & Simon has graced several business ventures from machine shops to race teams to real estate companies.  John, now semiretired from his career as a machinist, works with Debra in their real estate company.  This started out to be something intended to keep them busy, but has grown into something that keeps them VERY, VERY busy.  Buy, sell, build.  Want a lot?  Simon & Simon can get you there.

    Debra is a real go-getter.  Back in the St. Paul Minnesota area, Debra worked for an upscale women's' national clothing chain, where she earned the position of Vice President of Operations.  She was responsible for about 80 stores and over 600 employees.  Since the move to Florida, Debra is the President of the Hernando County Association of Realtors and Director of the Florida Association of Realtors.  She was also voted Hernando County Realtor of the Year in 2002. 

    John has mashed the throttle in his area of expertise as well.  A master machinist and mechanic, John has had success in areas near and dear to our hearts...racing, show cars, corvettes, chevelles and the list goes on.  Now, I'm not talking about local cruise night awards and the like.  What I'm telling you is these awards came from World of Wheels, corvette shows, drag racing awards (like best engineered and best appearing) on a national level, and ISCA (International Show Car Association) several times.  How about an unsponsored '90 corvette super gasser that smoked the traps at 8.95 at 150 mph? 

    An array of vettes have graced the Simon garages over the years.  For example, a 1973, 454 cid coupe, a 1973 L82 4-speed to the current stable of a '95 red coupe, '66 red coupe and an '04 yellow Z06 that John has already added that much needed horsepower with some go-FASTER goodies.  That's Quantum leaps from their first rides...a '56 Pontiac Chieftain for John and Debra's '69 Pontiac Lemans.  They have also had cars featured in National Dragster  magazine and had a 4 page layout in Super Chevy magazine.  Talk the talk and walk the walk.  That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

    As John has helped Debra in the real estate business, Debra has been there for John in the race car and show car business...from running all over the country to getting greasy when those extra hands were needed. 

    Funny how things turn out because this life all began with John's Mom trying to fix these two up.  You see, John's Mom worked with Debra and as usual, John wanted nothing to do with the gal Ol' Mom picked out for him.  After the breakup with the girl only known as "Jenny Big Tits," John accepted a blind date with Debra that was arranged by a friend of hers.  As the evening's conversation continued they both discovered that Debra and John were, in fact, the same two people that John's mother had been trying to get together.  John was overwhelmed at the revelation and blurted out "so you're the freckle-faced, buck tooth, redhead my mom wanted me to meet!"  Smooth, John, very smooth!  In spite of John's charming and flattering remarks, Debra knew that she could shape our current NCVettes VP into the diplomat he is today.

    My usual closing comments remind everyone that these few paragraphs are only to spur some conversation among our members.  At our next meeting, set a spell, take your shoes off and say hello to John and Debra.