Alumni Award: Allen Vincent Collins ’53

The whale may be an endangered species in some oceans of the world, but not in Al’s scheme of things—as the logo for his highly successful retail men’s clothing store in West Hartford, Conn., it is spouting and breaching with vigor. Al’s wife, Nancy, has been his partner in the store from the beginning.

The Collinses are deeply devoted to two educational institutions: Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, which graduated all four of their kids and where A 1 has been a trustee for ten years and chairman of the board for the past two; and Dartmouth, which has graduated three Collins children (and the fourth got a Tuck M.8.A.), a son- in-law, Al’s father, and his older brother. All that Dartmouth adds up to more immersion than you find at a baptism.

Besides his children, A 1 has given Dartmouth his houndless energy. He has held a dozen class and club positions, has been a member of the Alumni Council and its president, and was the Alumni Fund chairman for two record-breaking years. Along the way he also picked up just about every known Dartmouth award for fundraising and ser- vice. His trophy room needs another wing.

When A 1 comes to Hanover, he likes to asso- ciate with the younger crowd. Joining the under- graduates at breakfast or in conversation on a Dartmouth bench, he pays close attention to what’s on their minds and carries their con- cerns with him to the meeting rooms.

But businessman, devoted alum- nus, and humanist that A 1 is, no bottom-line has ever been more important to him than family. They are an exemplary group, indeed, and the College is proud to have been part of the family. It is, then, with Dartmouth’s undy- ing admiration, respect, and appreciation that we present him with the Alumni Award.