Bill Simmons Named 2026 Billings Chamber Legacy Award Recipient
A lifetime of leadership, service and investment in people earns MasterLube founder the Billings Chamber’s highest honor.
Some leaders build successful businesses. Others build something that lasts long after the business itself.
For more than four decades, Bill Simmons has done both.
The Billings Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Simmons, founder of MasterLube, as the recipient of the 2026 Billings Chamber Legacy Award, the Chamber’s highest honor.
The Legacy Award recognizes an individual whose leadership, service and dedication have made Billings a better place over a lifetime. It celebrates those who have strengthened the business community, contributed to the local economy and improved the quality of life for the people who call Billings home.
For Simmons, that legacy has always been about more than business success.
A Business Built Around People
For 40 years, Simmons built MasterLube into a trusted Billings business. But ask him what he is most proud of, and the answer is unlikely to be measured in revenue, growth or business milestones.
It is the people.
Simmons has always placed a premium on knowing his employees, hearing their stories and investing in the people who helped build the company. His approach to leadership was rooted in a simple belief: Every person matters.
That philosophy shaped the culture of MasterLube and helped create a workplace where employees were valued, supported and encouraged to grow.
His impact also extended beyond the workplace.
Investing in the Community
Year after year, MasterLube has supported Grad Day, raising thousands of dollars to help provide graduating seniors with a safe place to celebrate one of life’s biggest milestones.
That commitment is just one example of how Simmons has used his business as a vehicle for giving back.
His generosity and community involvement have touched countless organizations, families, employees and future leaders throughout Billings. His leadership demonstrates that a successful business can be an important part of building a stronger community.
A Legacy of Showing Up
True legacy isn’t created through one accomplishment or one defining moment. It is built through years of consistently showing up, serving others and making a difference.
Simmons has spent his career doing exactly that.
He has demonstrated that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about caring deeply, building relationships and lifting others along the way.
As Simmons enters a well-earned retirement, the Billings Chamber is proud to celebrate the lasting mark he has made on the community he has served for more than four decades.
His story is a reminder that the strongest legacies are built through people, relationships, service, and through a commitment to leaving the community better than you found it.
Simmons will be honored at the 2026 Annual Business Celebration, presented by Marsh McLennan Agency and KOA, on September 24. Tickets and tables available at BillingsChamber.com.
