| LINDA'S PAST LIFE: A BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT |
| "I was put on this Earth to live, and not to simply exist as I do in this nowhere." Rick Simpson circa 1970 "Wow! I did all that!" - Linda Simpson reflecting on her life in 1997 |
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| I was born in October 1953 at Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. I was wrongly assigned in gender as a son, based on a birth defect, and named Richard Patrick Simpson. I was an only child except for a half brother who I have never met and who I don't believe knows of my existence. I had a happy uneventful childhood. Both of my parents worked and I frequently lived with my maternal grandparents who had a small non-working farm in Armburst, Pennsylvania. It was exciting staying at grandmas. Her big farmhouse and outbuildings were partially surrounded by the near-by woods that held the promise of adventure and mystery. There was a small stream and a larger creek that flowed through the property. There were some animals, lots of dogs, and I raised ducks as pets. Grandma liked to bake and usually let me help in the kitchen. Like most grandmothers she was the best cook and baker in the world. I was very close to my grandmother and did everything with her. On my fourth birthday my bubble was shattered and innocence destroyed. My grandmother was changing clothes and was topless. I was present in the room not paying attention to her when my aunt walked in and had a fit that I was present. It was at this time I learned I was different and that I wasn't the same sex as my grandmother. Prior to this, I had never given such things much thought. From my aunt's prudish overreaction I realized they considered me a boy and for the first time I felt different. Somehow I knew to keep my true feelings to myself due to her extreme behavior. I wanted to dress up in my mothers and grandmothers clothes but never dared to after the incident involving my aunt. At best I could only explore the texture and touch of the different clothing when I was locked in the bathroom, or when the adults were outside and I would sneak upstairs to one of the bedrooms. I was five years old when I can first put a date on crossdressing, but I had done so much prior to that also. During my early years I had male and female friends however I did not care for and disliked playing sports and competitive games. An attitude which has persisted into my adult life. I preferred playing with girls in early childhood however, once in school, the gender caste system forced me into activities with boys. I was neither good at these activities and wasn't popular either. As a result, even at a young age, I spent a lot of time alone in introspection and thought. |
| Rick Simpson 1974 |
| This was an exceptional time in my life as I met several girls and hung out with them as "one of the girls." We went places together, talked, shared secrets, slept together (non-sexual), and did the things girlfriends do. Charlotte, Nancy "Pete," Becky, Ann, and Lil will always have a special place in my heart. Although I lost contact with them years ago they never will be forgotten. It was the first time I had felt at peace since the days with my grandmother before my fourth birthday. During the 1970's I played in many bands, from bluegrass, rock, pop, dance, disco, to blues and jazz. Some of the bands were "No Cat Tail," "Brimstone," "Sky King," "Keith Wilson Kinfolk and Friends," among others. I played bass, rhythm guitar, and did some vocals. We played everywhere and anywhere. Music was our passion and I loved playing for crowds or just jamming with friends. met a very special friend during those years, Mick Kerekes, a talented musician from the Mon-Valley. Most of the bands I played in throughout the 1970's included Mick. He had taught me the basics and fanned my interest in performing. Mick was a good friend who has remained so to this day. |
| I spent most of my elementary and high school years in Mount Pleasant located in Southwestern Pennsylvania and attended schools in that district. I graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1971. |
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| I began college at California University of Pennsylvania then called California State College, in the summer of 1972. |
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| I worked for several small Pennsylvania Police Agencies throughout the 1970's starting with Greengate Police in the early 70's. In 1977 I accepted a position as Asst. Chief of Police with the Ellsworth Borough Police Department (in Washington County) and then, in 1978, I accepted a position with the larger agency of Fallowfield Township Police Department also located in Washington County.. Additionally, I completed my basic training at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Southwestern Training Center in Greensburg in the spring of 1978. At College, I received my first degree in 1976 in Anthropology and second in 1978 in Psychology. My original major had been Psychology however I became disillusioned quickly. I had sought to "cure myself" of my gendered torment and for that reason majored in Psychology. In 1970's Psychology though; the only mention of Transsexualism was in "abnormal and deviant psychology." Who wants to be abnormal and deviant? This combined with several un-motivating professors and a terrible intern experience at Woodvale Mental Hospital, I lost confidence and interest in Psychology for a long time. |
| Rick Simpson member of many bands in the 1970's Playing with "Brimstone" at a Pittsburgh Club in the mid 1970's |
| Asst. Chief Rick Simpson Ellsworth Police Department 1977 |
| Linda's Life: A Biographical Sketch |
| During the 1970's I met a girl who had moved with her parents from Modesto, California to Southwest Pennsylvania. We married (too young) and divorced a few years later. She has asked that I not identify her however it was her influences that resulted in a chain of events that led to many significant changes in my life. At her insistence I accepted employment as a Police Officer with the City of Rock Springs Police Department in Wyoming. Not long after moving to Rock Springs I filed for divorce. We had no children and it was an uncomplicated proceeding that went as smoothly as such things can. I am glad my ex has been successful and has found happiness. I did learn from her that one's self worth is not dependant upon the opinion and approval of others. On the Rock Springs Police Department I was paired with Officer Jeri A. Sheely who had been one of the first female patrol officers in the State of Wyoming. Jeri's account of becoming a street officer in 1970's "macho" Wyoming is a tale unto itself as she fought for her career in those days. |
| Officers Jeri Sheely and Rick Simpson City of Rock Springs Police Department May 1980 |
| Rick Simpson 1971 High School Yearbook Photo (taken in the fall of 1970) |
| Rick Simpson, Bob Bobbins, Mick Kerekes "NO CAT TAIL" at Belle Vernon High School during the Mid 1970's |
| Officer Rick Simpson Fallowfield Township Police Department Late 1970's |
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| Being a musician didn't pay for all living expenses and college tuition too. As a result I began working as a police officer which is quite a contrast to the life I had been living. My gender conflict had never gone away, in fact it only intensified. I knew that Christine Jorgensen had undergone a "sex change" operation in 1952-1953. When I was 12 years old I had even found a book with Jorgensen's story in the Mount Pleasant Library. I was afraid to check it out for fear that someone would immediately know I had a similar problem. I would secretly read the book in the library a few pages at a time where no one could see me. Finally, in desperation, I stole the book. This only led to depression as now I felt that to undergo a "sex change" you had to go to some far off foreign country at an astronomical cost. I countered by becoming a police officer. I thought, "what is more macho than being a cop, that'll cure me of my feminine feelings." |
| Jeri and I became good friends and fell in love. We married in 1982 and soon found we were one another's soul mate. We had four children; Jessica Ann in 1983, Alexander Richard in 1991, and Allison Dawn in 1993. A fourth child, Jeremy Charles was still born in 1989. Jeri and I continued our law enforcement careers with various assignments for both. Since 1980 I had been a Field Training Officer and in 1983 I became Field Training Coordinator and an Instructor for the Department. I developed a model Field Training Program, instructed classes for my agency and others, as well as the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy and Western Wyoming College. I held assignments to Patrol Division, Shift Supervisor, Training Coordinator, Traffic, and others. In 1991 I was assigned to Detectives and it was there I found my niche in Law Enforcement. Throughout the 1980's I had assignments to Traffic, Patrol Division, Shift Supervisor, Instructor, Training Coordinator, Court Officer, and others. In 1991 I was assigned as a Detective and found my niche in Law Enforcement. Initially I started in property crimes but soon was assigned to the Violent Crime Unit. Eventually I was to be in charge of Sex Crimes Investigations (of all things). It seems I had an ability to get sex offenders to talk with me but then I knew what it was like to harbor a deep secret. |
| Ofc. Rick Simpson Greengate Police Early 1970's |
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