BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
George W. Collins
| BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY |
| George W. Collins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 6th district | |
| In office November 3, 1970 – December 8, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel J. Ronan |
| Succeeded by | Cardiss Collins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 5, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 1972 (aged 47) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Cardiss Collins (m. 1958–72) |
George Washington Collins (March 5, 1925 – December 8, 1972) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois serving from 1970 until he was killed in plane crash in Chicago, Illinois in 1972.
Biography
Collins was born in Chicago, and served with the Army engineers in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, Collins held positions with the Cook County sheriff’s department, the municipal court system, and the Board of Health, and as administrative assistant to health commissioner prior to being sent to Congress.
Political career
From 1964–1970, Collins served as a member of the Chicago city council. Collins was then elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Rep. Daniel J. Ronan and reelected to the succeeding Congress and served until his death.
Death and legacy
Collins died on December 8, 1972 when United Airlines Flight 553 crashed on approach to Chicago Midway International Airport. Collins was a passenger on the flight. His wife Cardiss Collins was elected to his seat (which had been redistricted to the 7th district) shortly thereafter. Cardiss Collins was the first African American woman to represent a midwestern district in Congress, and served in the House of Representatives from 1973 until her retirement in 1997, a tenure of over 33 years. 1976, The Chicago Public Schoolsopened Collins Academy High School, a public high school in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood in his honor. [1]
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