[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 144 (Wednesday, September 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1991-E1992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHN J. COLLINS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 26, 2007

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, books and movies abound 
these days about the ``Greatest Generation,'' those men and women who 
fought and won World War II to save us from fascism. But it is not just 
the winning of World War II that leads us to admire and be grateful to 
members of our parents' generation. To know the individual is to 
understand the generational achievement of greatness.
  My father-in-law, Dr. John J. Collins, is a person whose life can so 
instruct us. Like so many of his generation, John J. Collins was not 
born to wealth or privilege. Born in Oklahoma in 1917, his family soon 
moved to California, where his father worked in the oil fields in 
Coalinga. He was the oldest boy in a big Irish-American family, with 
several older sisters. And when his father died at an early age, as a 
boy he was the ``oldest man'' in his household during the Great 
Depression. Like so many of his generation, he learned habits of 
frugality and hard work in those early years. These habits have served 
him and his family well. They are with him to this day.
  In the best American spirit, he struggled to go farther than his 
parents. He was educated at Coalinga Junior College and then worked his 
way through the University of California at Berkeley, where he received 
a Bachelor of Arts degree. Like so many others, he enlisted to fight in 
World War II, joining the U.S. Army before Pearl Harbor, in 1941. In 
the Army, he became an infantry and artillery officer. He served for 
years in the Pacific, including taking part in the fighting in Saipan 
and Okinawa. This was rough combat and many died. Like most of those 
who I've met who served under such conditions, he prefers not to 
discuss the details of combat but remembers still those of his 
colleagues who did not return. He merely served bravely, honorably and 
saved our country, emerging as a Captain. He is humble about his 
service. We are honored by it.
  After the war, he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and then 
moved to Bakersfield where he went to work at Bakersfield High

[[Page E1992]]

School. The soldiers came home from the war to make a life for 
themselves with marriage and children. He was no exception, and he and 
his wife Patricia were blessed with three children, three grandchildren 
and one great-grandchild. From Bakersfield High School, he moved on to 
Bakersfield College. In his early years at the college, he taught 
sociology and also served as a very successful track and cross-country 
coach. Always striving to improve himself, he took classes nights and 
summers while pursuing an education career, and obtained a Master's 
degree. A counseling credential allowed him to begin serving as a 
counselor for students. Subsequently, he became first the Director of 
Student Activities and then the Dean of Students. During this period, 
he engaged in more evening, weekend, and summer study at UCLA in the 
Education Department. Ultimately, a doctor's thesis was written and 
published, and he was awarded a doctorate in education.
  In 1965, he was selected as the first President of Moorpark College, 
a community college in Ventura County. There, he supervised the 
building of the College's physical plant, planned the curriculum and 
opening, hired the faculty and administration, and took Moorpark from a 
plan on paper to a thriving junior college with a variety of innovative 
educational programs. Later he got the chance to return to Bakersfield 
College as President and the family moved back to that California 
community. As President of Bakersfield College for many years, he kept 
the school in the top rank of community colleges, established an 
endowment and the B.C. Foundation, and won the respect of the 
community, his colleagues, and the students. He retired as President of 
Bakersfield College in 1982. But, with his work ethic, he never has 
been fully ``retired.'' He served as interim President of Mission 
Community College in Santa Clara County and then as interim Chancellor 
for West Valley-Mission Community College District. Throughout this 
time, he retained the title President Emeritus at Bakersfield College, 
and has worked as an administrator there most of time since his 
``retirement.'' Never one to forget the remembrance and honor due to 
the past, Dr. Collins has been instrumental in setting up the 
Bakersfield College Archives. Recognizing his many years of service, 
several years ago Bakersfield College renamed its student center 
building as the John J. Collins Student Center.

  Along the way, he acquired the skill to make beautiful furniture, and 
has blessed his family members with many graceful and attractive 
pieces. At age 90, he continues to work for the Kern Community College 
District and to be a joy to his friends, family, and community. Dr. 
John J. Collins, ``Doc'' to his grandchildren, is to me the model of 
all we admire in his generation. When times were tough, he just worked 
harder. When his country called in time of war, he bravely answered. 
When his country needed him, he spent a career giving back to his 
community as an educator--making sure that young people had a chance to 
learn and succeed.
  As family man, he devoted himself to his wife, his children, his 
siblings and extended family. He has shown real courage--whether on the 
battlefields of the South Pacific or when facing and coping with the 
serious illness of his wife of more than 60 years. He has shown a 
steadiness of purpose which allowed him to leap to a level of 
erudition, education and economic stability not dreamed of by his 
parents or grandparents. Widely admired in his hometown, he is 
recognized as someone who made a difference.
  We Americans owe much to the Greatest Generation. But we also owe to 
them as individuals our love and gratitude. I feel that greatly today 
on the occasion of the 90th birthday of Dr. John J. Collins, who it has 
been my privilege to know as my father-in-law.

                          ____________________