Thomas LeRoy Collins (1909 - 1991)

Born 10 Mar 1909 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States

Husband of Mary Call (Darby) Collins — married 27 Jun 1932 in Tallahassee, Florida

Died 12 Mar 1991 at age 82 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States

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Preceded by
Charley Eugene Johns

33rd Governor of Florida
1955 - 1961

Succeeded by
C. Farris Bryant

Biography

LeRoy Collins is Notable.

Political

LeRoy Collins was first elected to public office in 1934 as a representative in the Florida House. He served until 1940 when he was elected to the Florida senate to fill the remainder of the term of the late William Hodges. He resigned in 1941 and served in the US Navy during WWII. After the war he was elected again to the senate and served until 1954 when he defeated Acting Governor Charley Eugene Johns in a special election necessitated by the death of Gov. Dan McCarthy in 1953. He was reelected to a second term in 1956 and served until 1961.

In 1960 he was chairman of the Democratic National Convention and was considered as a possible running mate with Kennedy. President Johnson appointed him as the first Director of the Community Relations Service under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He also served for over a year as Under Secretary of Commerce. In 1968 he made an unsuccessful bid for the US Senate.

Though he believed in segregation, he recognized the moral imperative of ending it, but strongly believed in the rule of law to bring change. Today he is honored by Democrats and Republicans as Florida's greatest governor.

Family

In 1932 he married Mary Call Darby, a noted historical preservationist and great granddaughter of Territorial Governor Richard K. Call.

Marriage

Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982No Image Name: LeRoy Collins Gender: Male Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1909 Marriage Date: 27 Jun 1932 Marriage Place: Leon, Florida, USA Spouse: Mary Call Darby Film Number: 002030922

Census

1910 United States Federal Census Name: Thomas L Collins Age in 1910: 1 Birth Date: 1909 [1909] Birthplace: Florida Home in 1910: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida, USA Street: Adam St Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: Marren H Collins Father's Birthplace: Florida Mother's Name: Mattie A Collins Mother's Birthplace: Georgia Native Tongue: English Able to read: No Able to Write: No Household Members Age Relationship Marren H Collins 33 Head Mattie A Collins 30 Wife Brandon C Collins 6 Son James M Collins 5 Son Alice Collins 3 Daughter Thomas L Collins 1 Son

1920 United States Federal Census Name: Roy Collins Age: 10 Birth Year: abt 1910 Birthplace: Florida Home in 1920: Precinct 14, Leon, Florida Residence Date: 1920 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Marital Status: Single Father's Name: M H Collins Father's Birthplace: Florida Mother's Name: Mattie B Collins Mother's Birthplace: Georgia Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: None Attended School: yes Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members Age Relationship M H Collins 42 Head Mattie B Collins 40 Wife Brandon Collins 16 Son Marvin Collins 15 Son Alice Collins 12 Daughter Roy Collins 10 Son Arthur Collins 9 Son Mattie Sue Collins 7 Daughter

1930 United States Federal Census Name: Leroy Collins Birth Year: abt 1909 Gender: Male Race: White Age in 1930: 21 Birthplace: Florida Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Home in 1930: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida, USA Map of Home: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Street Address: Magnolia Heighta Dwelling Number: 14 Family Number: 14 Attended School: Yes Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: Florida Mother's Birthplace: Georgia Able to Speak English: Yes Household Members Age Relationship Marvin H Collins 53 Head Mattie Collins 50 Wife Brandon Collins 26 Son Marvin Collins 25 Son Alice Collins 23 Daughter Leroy Collins 21 Son Arthur Collins 19 Son Mattie Sue Collins 18 Daughter

1935 Florida, U.S., State Census, 1867-1945 Name: Leroy Collins Age: 26 Gender: Male Race: White Birth Place: Leon Est. Birth Year: abt 1909 Relationship to Head: Head Spouse Name: Mary Cole Collins Census Year: 1935 Locality: Precinct 12 County: Leon Page: 33 Line: 24 Archive Series #: S5, Roll 18 Household Members: Name Age Leroy Collins 26 Mary Cole Collins 22 Leray Collins 7 Months

1940 United States Federal Census Name: Leroy Collins Respondent: Yes Age: 31 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1909 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Florida Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Map of Home in 1940: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Street: North Monroe Street House Number: 622 Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Residence in 1935: Tallahassee Sheet Number: 21A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 496 Occupation: Lawyer House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 15000 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: College, 2nd year Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 48 Class of Worker: Employer Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income Other Sources: Yes Household Members Age Relationship Leroy Collins 31 Head Mary Call Collins 28 Wife Leroy Collins Jr 5 Son Jane Beward Collins 1 Daughter

Military

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 Name: Leroy Collins Gender: Male Race: White Age: 31 Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head) Birth Date: 10 Mar 1909 Birth Place: Tallahassee, Florida, USA Residence Place: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida, USA Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940 Registration Place: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida, USA Height: 6 Weight: 175 Complexion: Light Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Next of Kin: Leroy Collins Household Members Age Relationship Leroy Collins 31 Self (Head) Leroy Collins Wife

U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010No record image Name: Leroy L Collins Gender: Male Birth Date: 10 Mar 1909 Death Date: 12 Mar 1991 SSN: 265287380 Page number: 1

Death

Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998No Image Name: Thomas Leroy Collins Race: White Age at Death: 82 Birth Date: 10 Mar 1909 Death Date: 12 Mar 1991 Death Place: Leon, Florida, United States

Burial

Call Family Cemetery Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, USA

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 21665790

• LeRoy Collins on Wikipedia

• "When LeRoy Collins Went to Selma", Florida Memory blog, 20 March 2017, State Library and Archives of Florida.