Cuthbert Ormond Simpkins (January 13, 1925 – December 4, 2019) was an American dentist, civil rights campaigner, and state legislator in Louisiana. He left the state under threat of violence before returning.

He was born in Mansfield, Louisiana to Oscar Simpkins. He studied at Wiley College and graduated from Tennessee State University with an undergraduate degree. He received a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee.

C. O. Simpkins

He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He lived in Shreveport. His home and office were firebombed.

C. O. Simpkins

He lived in New York for 26 years before returning to Shreveport. A Democrat, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996.

C. O. Simpkins

He was married to Elaine nee Shoemaker Simpkins. There were no children from this marriage. Dr. Simpkins had a total of six children.

Mansfield's post office was renamed for him.

References

1925 births

2019 deaths

People from Mansfield, Louisiana

Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives

20th-century American politicians

United States Air Force officers

Wiley College alumni

Tennessee State University alumni

Meharry Medical College alumni

African-American state legislators in Louisiana

American dentists