Glynn Simmons, an Oklahoma man who spent nearly 50 years wrongfully imprisoned, celebrated almost a year of freedom by giving back to his community on Friday.
Simmons, the longest-imprisoned U.S. inmate to be exonerated, launched his new business, FreeMan’s Food Truck, and served free meals to all who stopped by.
“I couldn’t, I couldn’t imagine it a year ago today, I couldn’t see a year ago today,” Simmons said. Last July, he was still behind bars for a 1974 murder he did not commit. Reflecting on his newfound freedom, he added, “Every day it’s getting better and better.”
Just last week, an Oklahoma County Judge approved a settlement requiring the state to pay Simmons $175,000, the maximum allowed under Oklahoma law for wrongful imprisonment.
Although grateful for the settlement, Simmons expressed dissatisfaction with the amount.
“I totally disagree with it. It’s a sham. It’s a mockery,” he said, noting that the compensation equated to less than $3,600 per year for his nearly five decades of incarceration. “They paid the private prison corporations more than that to keep me in the cell. For 22 years, they paid $48 a day to keep me in the cell.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the settlement, Simmons was able to turn a new page by opening FreeMan’s Food Truck, which he dedicated to his late older brother, a chef who passed away two weeks after Simmons’ release from prison.
“Very exciting, I’ve been anticipating it all week,” Simmons remarked about the food truck’s opening.
The launch event drew a large crowd in Eastside Oklahoma City, where Simmons and his business partner provided free lunches.
“From 10 to 2 all food coming out this truck is free, free food from the FreeMan’s Food Truck,” Simmons announced. The menu featured fish plates, burgers, loaded burgers, and cheddar cheese dogs.
Simmons plans to take the food truck all over Oklahoma City, continuing to share his passion for food and his story of resilience and redemption.
