IN MEMORIAM

ASEE Prism, Sep 2005

W. LEIGHTON ("LATE") COLLINS, Executive Director Emeritus of the American Society for Engineering Education, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 in Columbia, Md. He was 99 years old.

A member of ASEE since 1932, Collins was the executive director from 1955 to 1969. He presided over the expansion of ASEE and its evolution into an internationally recognized professional organization. In 1965 the Society moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C., from the University of Illinois, Urbana campus.

"Late" Collins had a long and distinguished career as an educator and administrator. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 1928 and 1932, respectively. He accepted a teaching position with the university and remained a full-time member of the faculty of the department of theoretical and applied mechanics until 1955, when he became executive director of ASEE on a part-time basis. In 1969 he received the University of Illinois College of Engineering Alumni Honor Award for distinguished service in engineering.

In 1971, Collins was awarded the first Distinguished and Unusual Service Award given by ASEE. Later, this award was renamed the W. Leighton Collins Award for Distinguished and Unusual Service. Collins set up a teaching enhancement endowment fund for outstanding teachers of engineering at the University of Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to: W. Leighton Collins Fund, University of Illinois Foundation, Harker Hall, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801. In memo section of check, please specify: "In memoriam for W. L. Collins."