[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14556-14557]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING REAR ADMIRAL LeROY COLLINS, JR.

 Mr. LeMIEUX. Mr. President, today I wish to give special 
recognition to the life and work of a friend and fellow Floridian, 
former U.S. Navy RADM LeRoy Collins, Jr . I had the pleasure of working 
closely with Admiral Collins during my time with the Governor's office 
and more recently on federal issues improving health care for veterans. 
He was a fifth-generation Floridian who came from a long line of public 
servants and will always be remembered for his commitment to the 
military community and our State.
  A native of Tallahassee, FL, LeRoy Collins received his commission 
from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1956 and began a long career with 
the Navy. His first tour was aboard the amphibious transport USS 
Calvert, followed by a Submarine Officer's Basic Course in Groton, CT. 
Later, he served aboard the submarine USS Chivo. Through hard work, 
dedication and sacrifice, LeRoy earned the rank of rear admiral.

[[Page 14557]]

  Admiral Collins served as an analyst for Naval Intelligence in 
Washington, DC and as a ballistic missile weapons officer aboard the 
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine USS James Madison. After a 
brief tour working missile test operations at Naval Ordnance Training 
Unit in Cape Canaveral, he transferred to the Navy Reserve in 1966.
  While a naval reservist, Admiral Collins served as commanding officer 
of the coastal minesweeper USS Thrush and later as commander of various 
Navy Reserve submarine units. During his time, he was the Navy's 
liaison to the Florida National Guard and also commanding officer of 
the Navy liaison unit at U.S. Readiness Command, headquartered at 
MacDill Air Force Base, FL.
  The admiral served as Commander, Naval Reserve Readiness Command, 
Region 8 and later as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Reserve) for 
Logistics, Pentagon, until his retirement from the Navy Reserve as a 
two-star rear admiral in October, 1990.
  Throughout his service in the Navy Reserve, Admiral Collins was also 
a businessman. He spent time with the Florida Power & Light Company and 
IBM. He was the founding president of Financial Transaction Systems, 
Inc., and president of Telecredit Service Center, Inc. In addition, he 
served as president of Dynamic Realty of Tampa, Inc., was chairman of 
Gateway Holdings, Inc., and served as president of the Armed Forces 
Financial Network.
  I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Admiral Collins, a 
pillar of our great State, for his service to our Nation and his 
commitment to helping Florida's veterans. His work for Florida's 
veterans, their families and survivors in improving their health and 
well-being will be greatly missed.
  Admiral Collins served his country diligently, with pride, and with 
honor. On behalf of all Floridians, and specifically the nearly 1.8 
million veterans who call Florida home, I thank him for his service and 
know he will be greatly missed.

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