Created by Thomas LeRoy Collins

Biographical notes:

March 10, 1909 Born in Tallahassee, Florida. 1927 Graduated from Leon High School, Tallahassee, Florida. 1931 Received LL.B degree from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee. 1932 Married Mary Call Darby, great-granddaughter of Florida Territorial Governor Richard Keith Call. 1935 1940 Served as Florida Representative 1940 1953 Served as Florida Senator. 1954 Elected Florida Governor in primary campaign against Acting Governor Charley Johns. 1955 1961 Served two terms as Florida Governor. 1960 Elected permanent chairman of Democratic National Committee. 1961 1964 Served as President, National Association of Broadcasters. 1964 1965 Served as Director, Community Relations Service. 1965 1966 Served as Undersecretary, U. S. Department of Commerce. 1968 Ran for U.S. Senate seat vacated by U.S. Senator George Smathers; was defeated by U.S. Representative Edward Gurney. 1970 Returned to law practice in Tallahassee with firm of Ervin, Varn, Jacobs, Odom, and Kitchen. 1971 Published his book Forerunners Courageous. 1974 Served on Florida Commission on Ethics. 1977 1978 Served on Florida Constitution Revision Commission. 1978 Received first Annual Nelson Poynter Award for his public service in preserving civil rights. 1978 1983 Served on Governor's Advisory Council on Productivity. 1979 Served on Florida Joint Legislative and Executive Committee on Postsecondary Education. 1980 1981 Served on Commission on the Future of the South. 1981 Selected as first recipient of the Florida Distinguished Service medal at the premiere of his film, "LeRoy Collins, Great Floridian." 1982 1984 Served as Director of the Committee on the Constitutional System in Washington, D.C. 1983 1990 Produced Public Service Radio Broadcast Series. 1986 1989 Served on U.S. Constitution Bicentennial Commission of Florida. 1989 Collins Center for Public Policy Founded. 1990 Received first Distinguished Community College Alumni Award. March 12, 1991 Died at his Tallahassee home, The Grove.

From the guide to the Thomas LeRoy Collins Papers, 1909-1991, 1961-1991, (Repository Unknown)

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