• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • TTI Home
  • Aviation Research Home
  • Contact
Texas A&M Transportation Institute logo
Aviation Research
  • About
  • System Planning and Research
  • Aviation Education
  • Texas Aviation Conference
  • Publications
    • Wingtips
  • News

Wayne Collins

Civic Leader, Mineola Icon Wayne Collins Dead at 94

June 3, 2019

By Hank Murphy
[email protected]

Wayne Collins and Dave Fulton

Wayne Collins and TxDOT Aviation Division Director Dave Fulton at the Wood County Airport Collins Field ceremony in 2017.

Wayne Collins, a longtime Mineola businessman, civic leader, Rotarian and pilot who made countless contributions to Mineola and Wood County during his long and productive life, died Sunday at his home in Mineola. He was 94.

The lifelong Mineolan, who most recently served as grand marshal during December’s Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade, was known for spearheading numerous civic initiatives, as well his love for flying, scouting and Rotary.

“Always in his heart, it was what was best for the city of Mineola. He will be sorely missed, he really will,” said Mercy Rushing, Mineola’s city manager.

Greg Hollen, president of the local Rotary Club, said “He was extraordinary, he was selfless, he was inspiring.”

Collins grew up in an entrepreneurial family. The Collins family began owning businesses in Mineola in 1922 and later opened the city’s first dry cleaning business. In 1930, the Collins family began selling men’s clothing. After serving in World War II, Wayne joined the business full-time in 1948. They would eventually expand into women’s fashions, and throughout the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and the first part of the 90s, Collins had a retail presence in Mineola. He also had stores in Athens and Tyler.

After retiring from the retail business, Collins turned his attention to the Wood County Airport Board, which he helped found. His position at the airport fit nicely with one of passions in life – flying airplanes. Like he did so often through his life, he parlayed his infatuation with flight into serving others. He participated in Angel Flights, providing transportation to families in need of medical treatment. He introduced young people to flying through the Young Eagle program, and Collins delivered two single-engine planes to medical missionaries in Africa for Wings of Hope. Into his 90s, Collins continued to fly airplanes. In 2017,his contributions to Wood County Airport were recognized as it was renamed Wood County Airport Collins Field.

He worked tirelessly to improve the airport, said Rushing. “When no one else was there, he was there,” she said.

Collins was the first recipient of the Texas Aviator of the Year Award, which is a special award presented by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division (AVN) at their annual conference.

“He also began an effort many years ago to build an airport in Wood County,” said AVN Director David Fulton. “It is a fine airport and would not be there today had it not been for Wayne Collins. He also was a great supporter of TxDOT Aviation. He was a great guy who had a long, productive life.”

Collins did two stints as president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and was a fixture on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Through his position with the chamber, he was catalyst in reviving downtown Mineola through his work in making Mineola a Texas Main Street City, according to Rushing.

She described him as smart and “a wealth of information” who never bragged about himself and always acted in the best interests of Mineola. He was a solutions-oriented man and served as a mentor to her, said Rushing.

Collins also enjoyed a lifelong association with the Boy Scouts.

“There are two things you learn early in scouting. It’s all about teamwork and somebody’s got your back. You also learn leadership and those things stay with you the rest of your life,” Collins said in January of last year after being honored for his lifelong commitment to scouting.

He also was committed to the Mineola Rotary Club, for which he served for more than 70 years. His father was an original founder, said current Rotary President Greg Hollen.
“He was the rarest of civic volunteers,” said Hollen, “He was here every week and attended every event.”

Collins even stood in the cold ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, Hollen recalled.

“People like me came to Rotary because of Wayne,” he said.

“One of the measures of Wayne is that he really never took credit” for his accomplishments. “He was selfless that way. He was just such and inspiring guy.”

Collins was preceded in death by his wife, Frances. He is survived by his children, Craig, Corey, Cristle, and Clay; 10 grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.

This article reprinted with permission from The Wood County News

Filed Under: Wingtips Spring 2019 Tagged With: Dave Fulton, Wayne Collins, Wood County Airport Collins Field

Dave’s Hangar

June 3, 2019

We Say Goodbye To Wayne Collins!!

Sadly, on January 27, 2019, we had to say so long to one of our best General Aviation supporters and friend, Wayne Collins. Wayne was born in Mineola Texas, graduating from high school in 1941. His college training at Rice University was interrupted by World War II, serving as an officer and member of the “Greatest Generation” aboard a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific theater. Following the war, he returned to Rice University to complete his education, graduating in 1948. He continued his military career in the Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of Captain U. S. Navy.

After his family, flying was the love and constant of Wayne’s life. He flew his beloved Beechcraft Bonanza around the world twice, in 1986 and again in 1990. Wayne was the founding organizer for formation flights to the annual fly-ins to Oshkosh, earning an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. He provided help to families needing medical transportation through Angel Flights, introduced numerous young people to flying though the Young Eagles program, and delivered two single-engine planes to medical missionaries in Africa for Wings of Hope.

Wayne was the initiator and driving force behind the Wood County Airport from its creation until the day he died. For his lifetime contributions to aviation, Wayne was an easy choice as the first recipient of the Texas Aviator of the Year Award.

God Bless You Wayne. Thanks for all you did for Texas Aviation.

Welcome Aboard To Our New TxDOT Aviation Employees!!

Since last year’s Texas Aviation Conference, we have added five employees to our airport
improvement staff.

The new employees are:

  • Mike Van Vliet, Airport Planner
  • Harry Sutherland, Airport Inspector
  • Anna Ramirez, Grants Manager

We’re also pleased to have back with us three excellent former employees:

  • Megan McLellan, Airport Planner
  • Sheri Quinlan, Grants Manager
  • Robert Johnson, P.E. Project Manager

Filed Under: Wingtips Spring 2019 Tagged With: Dave Fulton, dave's hangar, Wayne Collins

Wood County Airport Rededicated as Wood County Airport Collins Field

July 26, 2017

By Doris Newman
[email protected]

David Fulton speaking at the rededication of Wood County Airport.

TxDOT Aviation Division Director David Fulton delivers remarks during
the Wood County Airport name rededication ceremony. Wayne Collins is seated on the stage. (Monitor photo by Doris Newman)

The contributions of Wayne Collins to the Wood County Airport and the community were celebrated on May 27 as the facility was rededicated as Wood County Airport Collins Field. Those in attendance included family, state and city officials, friends and fellow aviators.

Collins, born in Mineola in 1924, was a World War II veteran, retiring as a Captain in the United States Navy. He first learned to fly at Mineola Wisener Field in the mid-1940s. Collins has flown his Bonanza around the world twice. He also created the Bonanza Formation Flying Organization that flies in parades and other celebrations.

“I’ve known Wayne for a long time,” said TxDOT Aviation Director David Fulton. “Anything positive you can say about Wayne’s contribution to this airport will be an understatement. This airport would not be here, if not for him. I’ve been in aviation at the state level in two different states for 42 years and I’ve never known anyone who did more for their local airport than Wayne Collins. He is an amazing guy.”

Fulton also said that naming Collins the first recipient of TxDOT’s “Texas Aviator of the Year” award in 2008 was an easy decision to make.

In 1978 Collins began efforts to aid local economic development by creating a general aviation airport. He persuaded the cities of Mineola and Quitman to jointly fund the facility which opened as Wood County Airport in 1983. He chaired the board until 2008 and played a vital role in the addition of a parallel taxiway and a new terminal building, installation of an automated weather system and the extension of the runway. And, thanks in large part to his hard work, the airport was named TxDOT Airport of the Year in 2010.

Former Wood County Judge Bill Alexander was also present and had worked with Collins to develop the airport.

“He is a man of great integrity that was inspired to do something and had a dream of what could be done,” Alexander said.

“I’m very humbled and honored to have the name of the airport changed to the Wood County Airport Collins Field,” said Collins.

The ceremony concluded with Collins boarding his airplane with Airport Board Co-Chairman John Wisdom to make a low pass over the airport.

Filed Under: Wingtips Spring 2017 Tagged With: Wayne Collins, Wood County Airport, Wood County Airport Collins Field

  • The State of Texas
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • State Expenditure Database
  • Statewide Search
  • State Auditor’s Office Hotline
  • TAMUS Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Site Policies
  • Open Records Policy
  • Statutorily Required Reports
  • TTI Rules
  • Veterans
  • Equal Opportunity
  • COVID-19 Info
  • Jobs
Member of the Texas A&M University System

© 2023 Copyright Statement / Legal Notices and Policies

Comments, suggestions, or queries? Contact us!

Texas A&M Transportation Institute · 3135 TAMU · College Station, Texas 77843-3135

(979) 317-2000