Patricia M. Collins

Patricia M. Collins
Mayor of Caribou, Maine
In office
1981–1982
Personal details
Born Patricia McGuigan
New York
Spouse(s) Donald Collins
Children 6
Residence Caribou, Maine
Occupation Civic leader

Patricia M. Collins is an American civic leader and politician. She was a two-term Mayor of Caribou, Maine from 1981 to 1982. She has chaired numerous local and state boards and organizations, including the Caribou School Board, the Maine Committee for Judicial Responsibility and Disability, Catholic Charities Maine, and the University of Maine Board of Trustees. She was inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame in 2005. She is also the matriarch of a political family: her husband, Donald Collins, is a former mayor of Caribou and four-term state senator, and her daughter, Susan Collins, is the senior United States Senator from Maine.

Early life and education

Born Patricia McGuigan[1] in Colombia and raised in Port Jervis, New York,[2] Collins earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970[3] and a second bachelor's degree in art from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.[4]

Civic career

Collins has been active on many local and state boards and organizations. She was a member of the Caribou School Board from 1967 to 1975, serving as chair of that body in her final year.[5][4] She was director of the Caribou Public Library, advisory board member of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, member of the Cary Medical Center Auxiliary, member of the University of Maine at Presque Isle committee on graduate studies, member of the Aroostook County Emergency Medical Services Committee, and chair of the Red Cross Caribou Flood Disaster Fund.[3][5] She was the religious education coordinator for the Holy Rosary Catholic Church for eight years.[4]

She chaired the Maine Committee for Judicial Responsibility and Disability, and Catholic Charities Maine.[3][6] In 1987 she became a member of the University of Maine Board of Trustees, serving as chairman of that board from 1991 to 1994.[4][7] In 1993 she was a member of the board's five-person search committee for a new University of Maine chancellor following the resignation of Robert Woodbury.[8]

Mayor

Collins joined the Caribou City Council in 1978.[5] In January 1981 she was unanimously elected mayor of Caribou, making her the second woman to fill that post.[5] Her appointment made her and her husband the first married couple to each serve as mayor of the city; Donald Collins was the second mayor of Caribou in 1968.[5]

In November 1981 she ran for a second term as mayor against a field of five candidates.[3] Both she and incumbent deputy mayor Roy W. Doak retained their seats.[9]

Other activities

Collins is an artist. In 1991 she exhibited her portrait series of Maine legislators at several University of Maine venues.[4]

Honors and awards

Susan Collins

In 2005 she was inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame.[6][10] With the induction of her daughter, United States Senator Susan Collins, in 2011, it marked the first time both a mother and daughter became members of the Maine Women's Hall of Fame.[10]

Family

She and her husband Donald have six children.[4] Donald is the retired president of the S. W. Collins Company, a fifth-generation lumber business now led by two of their sons.[1] Donald also served as mayor of Caribou in 1968[5] and was a four-term state senator.[1] Their daughter, Susan Collins, is currently serving her fourth term as the senior United States Senator from Maine.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Caribou's Donald Collins to be inducted into Northern Maine Construction Hall of Fame at NMCC ceremony October 20 (press release)" (PDF). Northern Maine Community College. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "THE DAVID C. KNAPP AWARD FOR TRUSTEESHIP: Patricia Collins" in "New England Higher Education 2015 Excellence Awards," published by the New England Board of Higher Education: http://www.nebhe.org/info/pdf/events/awards/2015/2015_Awards_Program_Book.pdf
  3. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Margaret (2 November 1981). "Five Candidates Vie for Two Caribou Council Seats". Bangor Daily News. p. 16. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garland, Nancy (6 August 1991). "Trustees Head: Call me Madam Chairman". Bangor Daily News. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Collins Assumes Post as Caribou's New Mayor". Bangor Daily News. January 10, 1981. p. 25. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Women to be honored at Augusta ceremony". Bangor Daily News. 17 February 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ "University Board Picks New Head". Sun-Journal. 24 May 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Banville, Beurmond (25 May 1993). "UMaine Trustees Initiate Search for New Chancellor". Bangor Daily News. p. 5. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Smith, Margaret (6 January 1982). "Caribou City Council swears in new members". Bangor Daily News. p. 17. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 UMFK News (16 February 2011). "Twenty-second Annual Maine Women's Hall of Fame". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Barrett, Ted (17 September 2015). "The Senate's Iron Lady: Susan Collins casts 6,000th consecutive vote". CNN. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
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