COLLINS, TYRUS FIELD "TYE"
Surnames: COLLINS, KNOWLTON, RATLIFF, ENGLISH, TURNER, COLLIE, BRADEN,
HINSON, JOHNSON, COCKERILLAND, WARE.
THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Wednesday, January 6, 1999
Marlin, Falls County, Texas
TYRUS FIELD "TYE" COLLINS
1927-1999
Tyrus Fields
"Tye" Collins died in Seton Medical Center from complications after heart
surgery on Wed. Jan. 13, 1999. Tye was
born in Guda, a suburb of Satin, Texas, on May 4, 1927 to Reuben Fields Collins
and Selma Guderian Collins.
His father named him for the great baseball player Ty Cobb. He grew up in
Satin during the Depression where he learned to take initiative and be
self-sufficient, even to the point of building his own clay tennis court with
friends. He graduated from Chilton High School in 1945 and immediately
enlisted in the Army. He served in Germany with Allied forces after the
German surrender and attended the Nuremberg War trials.
After honorable discharge from the Army, he achieved his goal of being the first
member of his family to attend college, at Texas A & M University from 1947-50,
serving as a Lieutenant in the Corps of Cadets. He graduated from A&M in
1950 with a Bachelor of Science
in Civil Engineering, and entered the Air Force, serving as a lieutenant in the
Korean conflict. In 1953, after another honorable discharge, he pursued
his career in civil engineering. He worked for the City of Waco from 1954
to 19062 (sic), becoming the youngest city engineer in Waco history.
In 1962, he began his consulting engineering practice, serving as principal or
partner with National Engineering Company, Knowlton, Ratliff, English & Collins;
and Turner, Collie and Braden. In throughout the state including his
hometown. He was known by his peers as one of Texas' best water engineers,
was described as an "old school engineer" with a broad knowledge of his field,
and a desire to do the best work with utmost integrity. He retired from
active practice in 1992.
Tye served as a director of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, the
Consulting Engineers Council of Texas, and was life member of TSPE and the
American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a member of the Capital Area
Planning Council, West Austin Rotary, and Capital City A&M Club, Tye was a
charter member of the board of the Northwest Hill Civic Association as well as
numerous other civic and social organizations.
Tye was married to his best friend, Bobbie Hinson Collins for 43 years.
Their loving marriage served as an example to their family and friends,
especially to their sons, Kent and Jeff.
In addition to his wife and sons, he is survived by Kent's wife, Reenie, their
daughter, Claire and son, Winston of Dallas; and Jeff's wife, Alicia, their son,
Andrew and daughter, Elizabeth of Houston; brother, Wayne and wife, Rena of
Richardson, sisters, Gilda Collins Johnson and Husband Mike of Ft. Worth and
Barbara Collins Cockerilland husband, Charles of Irving.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Tommy and Charles.
Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 at Weed-Corley-Fish
Funeral in Austin.
Funeral services were at Weed-Corley-Fish at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999,
with Dr. Browning Ware, officiating. Burial rites wfollowed (sic) at
Austin Memorial Park.
The family wished to thank the nurses and staff at Seton Medical Center for
their care duing Tye's illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests
contributions be made in Tye's name to Texas A&M Foundation, 1501 Texas Avenue
South, College Station, Texas 77840 or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements were by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral in Austin.
**********
-submitted by Lena Stone Criswell
