B. T. Collins
Encyclopedia
Brien Thomas "B. T." Collins (October 17, 1940 – March 19, 1993) was an American
politician from California
and a member of the Republican
party.
, New York
on October 17, 1940, Collins served as a Green Beret Captain during the Vietnam War
and lost his right arm and right leg to a grenade attack in 1967. Upon returning to the United States, Collins enrolled at Santa Clara University
, earning a B.A.
in 1970 and a J.D.
in 1973.
Governor
Jerry Brown
as Director of the California Conservation Corps
. During his California Conservation Corps service, Collins gained notoriety for drinking a beaker of malathion
to demonstrate his belief that it was safe.
Although a liberal Democrat
, Brown nevertheless appointed the conservative Republican Collins to replace Gray Davis
as his chief of staff
, a position Collins held until Brown left office in 1983.
Collins served as chief deputy to Republican California State Treasurer
Tom Hayes
from 1989 until 1991, when Hayes left office and Republican Governor Pete Wilson
appointed him as director of the California Youth Authority.
won a special election to the California State Senate
to replace John Doolittle
, who had been elected to Congress
, Wilson encouraged Collins to run for Leslie's vacant seat in the State Assembly
. Collins won a special election that September for the Sacramento-area 5th District
against fellow Republican Barbara Alby
, and narrowly beat her again in the 1992 GOP primary.
while serving his second term in the State Assembly. Alby won the special election to replace him.
Several sites in Sacramento have been renamed in his honor. When the Sacramento Army Depot was redesignated as an Army Reserve Center in the mid-1990s, it was renamed the B.T. Collins Army Reserve Center. There is also a park in the City of Folsom named the B.T. Collins City Park located at 828 Willow Creek Dr, Folsom, CA.
|+ Member, California State Assembly
: 1991-1993
!|Year
!|Office
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1991
|California State Assembly
District 5 (Special Election)
|
| |none
| align="right" |
| |
|
| |B.T. Collins 50.2%
Barbara Alby 49.8%
| align="right" |19,785
| |62.1%
|
| |David McCann
| align="right" |12,091
| |37.9%
|
|-
|1992
|California State Assembly
District 5
|
| |Joan Barry 65%
Jack Robbins 35%
| align="right" |65,787
| |41.2%
|
| |B.T. Collins 52%
Barbara Alby 48%
| align="right" |93,833
| |58.8%
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and a member of the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
party.
Early years
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on October 17, 1940, Collins served as a Green Beret Captain during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and lost his right arm and right leg to a grenade attack in 1967. Upon returning to the United States, Collins enrolled at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
, earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1970 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1973.
Executive branch
In 1979, Collins was appointed by DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
as Director of the California Conservation Corps
California Conservation Corps
The California Conservation Corps, or the CCC, is a department of the government of California, falling under the state cabinet-level California Resources Agency...
. During his California Conservation Corps service, Collins gained notoriety for drinking a beaker of malathion
Malathion
Malathion is an organophosphate parasympathomimetic which binds irreversibly to cholinesterase. Malathion is an insecticide of relatively low human toxicity, however one recent study has shown that children with higher levels of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in their urine are more likely...
to demonstrate his belief that it was safe.
Although a liberal Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Brown nevertheless appointed the conservative Republican Collins to replace Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
as his chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, a position Collins held until Brown left office in 1983.
Collins served as chief deputy to Republican California State Treasurer
California State Treasurer
The California State Treasurer is responsible for the state's investment and finance. The post has more narrow responsibilities and authority than the California State Controller...
Tom Hayes
Thomas W. Hayes
Thomas W. Hayes was the 28th California State Treasurer. A Republican, he was nominated by Governor George Deukmejian to fill the vacancy created by the August 4, 1987 death of Democrat Jesse M. Unruh. He took office in 1989, upon confirmation by both houses of the California Legislature...
from 1989 until 1991, when Hayes left office and Republican Governor Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
appointed him as director of the California Youth Authority.
State Assembly
After Sacramento-area Republican Tim LeslieTim Leslie
Robert Timothy Leslie is an American politician from California and a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:Born in Ashland, Oregon, Leslie moved to California with his family as a two-year-old...
won a special election to the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
to replace John Doolittle
John Doolittle
John Taylor Doolittle , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing . In the 109th Congress, he held a leadership role as the Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House...
, who had been elected to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, Wilson encouraged Collins to run for Leslie's vacant seat in the State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
. Collins won a special election that September for the Sacramento-area 5th District
California's 5th State Assembly district
California's 5th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Richard Pan of Sacramento.-District profile:Placer County - 7.81%*Granite Bay*Roseville - 3 residents...
against fellow Republican Barbara Alby
Barbara Alby
Barbara Alby is an American politician from California and a member of the Republican Party. She first sought elective office in 1991, running in a special election for the Sacramento-based 5th district in the California State Assembly. She lost that race to fellow Republican B. T. Collins,...
, and narrowly beat her again in the 1992 GOP primary.
Death
Collins died of a sudden heart attack March 19, 1993 in SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
while serving his second term in the State Assembly. Alby won the special election to replace him.
Several sites in Sacramento have been renamed in his honor. When the Sacramento Army Depot was redesignated as an Army Reserve Center in the mid-1990s, it was renamed the B.T. Collins Army Reserve Center. There is also a park in the City of Folsom named the B.T. Collins City Park located at 828 Willow Creek Dr, Folsom, CA.
Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"|+ Member, California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
: 1991-1993
!|Year
!|Office
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|1991
|California State Assembly
District 5 (Special Election)
|
| |none
| align="right" |
| |
|
| |B.T. Collins 50.2%
Barbara Alby 49.8%
| align="right" |19,785
| |62.1%
|
| |David McCann
| align="right" |12,091
| |37.9%
|
|-
|1992
|California State Assembly
District 5
|
| |Joan Barry 65%
Jack Robbins 35%
| align="right" |65,787
| |41.2%
|
| |B.T. Collins 52%
Barbara Alby 48%
| align="right" |93,833
| |58.8%
|
External links
- B.T. Collins candidate information at JoinCalifornia.com
- B.T. Collins Scholarship official site
- B.T. Collins "Captain Hook" Scholarship at Santa Clara University School of LawSanta Clara University School of LawThe Santa Clara University School of Law is the law school of Santa Clara University, a Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, in the Silicon Valley region. The School of Law was founded in 1911...