La Verne, CA — Burnis Simon was Executive Director of The Hafif Family Foundation.  Upon graduating from high school, Simon attended Texas A&M University, where he played Division I football.  Mr. Simon has been a teacher, gang counselor, college football star, and an assistant coach on the staff of renowned college football coach Jackie Sherrill. He has coached and mentored various future NFL players in their high school days, including Dante Hall, Quentin Griffin, Chris Rauman, Derrick Vaughn, Aaron Glenn, and Jason Glenn.

In 2017 Burnis Simon was award the Publishers’ Choice Award at the 20th Annual Celebration of Excellence Awards Gala and Scholarship Dinner. The Publishers’ Choice Award is given to an outstanding visionary leader who through their innovation, ingenuity and commitment has made an indelible impact on Southern California’s Inland Valley communities.

Services are pending and full obituary in the next Inland Valley News publication.