Speaker and Minority Leader statement on passing of former Speaker Collins
Murphy, Todd
Contacts:
Todd Murphy 860-490-5380
Pat O'Neil 860-304-4644
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joint Statement from Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora re: The Passing of former Speaker of the House Francis J. Collins
Connecticut has lost a true public servant. Former Speaker of the House Francis Collins was a man who deeply valued service. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served our state in the House of Representatives from the former 165th Assembly District (Brookfield) and was elected Speaker of the House in 1973. We relished checking in with Speaker Collins on each Opening Day of the legislature as the former Speakers flanked the dais. He had profound reverence for the House Chamber and the institution.
Speaker Collins was an accomplished attorney who quite literally wrote the book on Connecticut planning and zoning—Planning and Zoning in Connecticut. He was known for being incredibly thoughtful and fair, which is why he was tapped as one of the state's first trial referees in the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
Fran was a devoted family man and husband who will be remembered by all who knew him as a sincere gentleman with a kind heart.
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