Retiring founding trustee Robert “Bob”  Collins poses with his  grandson Owen Collins, wife Claude Ann and Rep. Jeff Leach. Courtesy Collin College

After helping guide Collin College from a fledgling institution offering classes in area high schools to a system serving more than 60,000 students annually, founding trustee Robert “Bob” Collins is stepping away after 41 years on the board.

Collins, a Farmersville resident, officially retired following the college’s May commencement ceremonies, ending one of the longest tenures by a community college trustee in Texas.

His final commencement carried special significance. Among the graduates crossing the stage was his grandson.

“We always believed Collin County deserved a college that could grow with the community and provide opportunities for generations of students,” Collins said in a statement released by the college. “Watching my grandson graduate from Collin College during my final commencement ceremony made this moment especially meaningful for my family and for me.”

Looking back, Collins said one accomplishment stands above the rest.

“I guess the thing I’m most proud of is that we’re able to pretty well cover the whole county with campuses,” he said. “That’s been a goal of mine since the very beginning. We did not want to become a Plano College or a McKinney College. We wanted to be Collin County College.”

That vision helped shape the college’s growth over four decades. Today, Collin College operates 10 campuses and centers across seven cities, along with its iCollin Virtual Campus and more than 200 degree and certificate programs.

While Collins said he could not have predicted exactly how large the college would become, he always expected Collin County’s population boom would drive demand for higher education.

“As a matter of fact, I had anticipated that,” Collins said of the county’s rapid growth. He added that East Collin County is poised for significant expansion in coming years as transportation projects improve access to the area.

Affordability remained a central focus throughout his tenure. Collins said the college has worked to maintain a low tax rate while continuing to expand educational opportunities.

“We’ve been able to hold the tax rate pretty well constant for the entire time,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to pay for what you’re going to provide. What I’ve tried to emphasize is, don’t spend money on stuff you don’t need.”

At the same time, Collins said quality has never been sacrificed.

“Let’s emphasize quality — quality in our education, quality in our facilities as we develop them,” he said.

Before joining the Collin College Board of Trustees, Collins spent more than 30 years with a Fortune 500 defense electronics company, eventually serving as a corporate vice president. He later taught and served as an administrator at Texas A&M University-Commerce for nearly two decades.

His public service also included time on the Plano City Council, where he served as mayor pro tem. Collins said those experiences proved valuable during his years as a trustee.

“I have a pretty fair understanding of the relationship in the community, and what’s needed and what’s not needed,” he said.

Collins has also been a strong supporter of workforce training and dual-credit programs, noting that students who earn college credits while in high school can provide significant savings for their families.

“A kid who does a dual credit program can save his family anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000,” he said.

Collin College President Neil Matkin credited Collins with helping build the institution’s foundation and expand opportunities for generations of students.

“Since its inception, Dr. Collins has helped shape the college into the institution it is today, creating a foundation for student success,” Matkin said in a statement.

Though retiring from the board, Collins said he has no plans to slow down completely. He remains active in his church and community and plans to continue supporting causes important to him.

Reflecting on more than four decades of service, Collins said he leaves with gratitude.

“It’s really been a pleasure,” he said. “I enjoyed being on the board. I’ve enjoyed the people we serve with, enjoyed having a great presence for the college. So, I suppose it’s been a good deal.”