Samuel LaFort Collins (August 6, 1895 – June 26, 1965) was an American lawyer,

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

veteran, and

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician who served in various offices from California in the early 20th century.

Early life and education

Collins was born in

Fortville, Indiana Fortville is a town in Vernon Township, Hancock County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,784 at the 2020 census. Geography Fortville is located in the northwest corner of Hancock County, Indiana at (39.934740, -85.847237), imme ...

, attended public schools in Indiana and California, and graduated from Chaffey Union High School,

Ontario, California Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California, east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, ...

, in 1915. He served as a private in the Hospital Corps, Seventh Infantry,

California National Guard The California National Guard is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal-state military reserve force. The CA National Guard has three components: the CA Army National Guard, CA Air National Guard, and CA State Guard. ...

on the Mexican border in 1916.

World War I service

From 1917 to 1919, he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

overseas as a sergeant in Co. C, 364th Infantry, 91st Division. After discharge from the Army, Collins studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1921, and practiced in

Fullerton, California Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617. Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Sa ...

Legal career

He was assistant district attorney of

Orange County, California Orange County is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States, a ...

, 1926–1930 and district attorney 1930–1932.

Political career

In 1932 Collins was elected to the 73rd Congress, and reelected, serving during 1933–1937. He lost his bid for reelection to a third term in 1936. Collins served as member of the

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The A ...

for the 75th district from 1941 to 1953, serving as speaker 1947–1952. Collins was the longest-serving Speaker in California history until the record was broken by

Jesse M. Unruh Jesse Marvin Unruh (, ; September 30, 1922 – August 4, 1987), also known as Big Daddy Unruh, was an American politician who served as speaker of the California State Assembly and as the California State Treasurer. Early life and education Born ...

, who was speaker from 1961 to 1969. Collins is the fifth-longest-serving Speaker behind

Leo T. McCarthy Leo Tarcissus McCarthy (August 15, 1930 – February 5, 2007) was an American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of California from 1983 to 1995. Early life and education McCarthy, whose parents were both nat ...

(1974–1980),

Anthony Rendon Anthony Michael Rendon (, ; born June 6, 1990) is an American baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and was a member of the Nationals' 2019 World S ...

(2016-2023), Unruh, and Willie Brown (1980–1995). Collins is the longest-serving Republican Speaker. After serving in the Assembly, he resumed the practice of law.

Death

Collins died at the age of 69 in Fullerton and is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park.

References

External links

* 1895 births 1965 deaths Speakers of the California State Assembly Republican Party members of the California State Assembly United States Army soldiers United States Army personnel of World War I People from Fullerton, California People from Ontario, California American Disciples of Christ People from Hancock County, Indiana Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California 20th-century American politicians {{California-CAAssembly-stub