LeRoy Collins

LeRoy Collins
33rd Governor of Florida
In office
January 4, 1955 – January 3, 1961
Preceded byCharley Eugene Johns
Succeeded byC. Farris Bryant
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
May 18, 1958 – June 25, 1959
Preceded byWilliam Stratton
Succeeded byJ. Caleb Boggs
Member of the Florida Senate
In office
1946–1954
In office
1940–1943
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office
1934–1940
Personal details
Born
Thomas LeRoy Collins

(1909-03-10)March 10, 1909
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 1991(1991-03-12) (aged 82)
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
(m. 1932)
EducationEastman Business College (BA)
Cumberland University (LLB)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1944–1946
RankLieutenant
Unit13th Naval District (Seattle, Washington)
Battles/warsWorld War II

Thomas LeRoy Collins (March 10, 1909 – March 12, 1991) was an American politician who served as the 33rd governor of Florida from 1955 to 1961. Collins began his governorship after winning a special election in 1954, and was elected to a four-year term in 1956.

Prior to winning election as governor, Collins served several terms in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. He was the first governor from the South to promote ending segregation. Counseling "progress under law," he took a moderate course in favor of incremental improvements during the 1950s and 60s and is remembered as a voice in favor of civil rights.