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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.
Dec 6, 2021 · Explore how the 33rd Governor of Florida changed his stance on segregation from defending it to promoting desegregation during his term in office. Learn about his speeches, actions, and legacy on civil rights issues in Florida and the nation.
Mar 13, 1991 · LeRoy Collins, who was Governor of Florida from 1955 to 1961 and an early "New South" politician who sought to promote racial justice in the region, died in his sleep at his home in...
May 1, 2023 · LeRoy Collins showed political courage by calling on the people of Florida, who elected him into office as a segregationist, to reconsider their stances as he had done. By calling for bi-racial committees to mend the wounds of segregation, Governor Collins distinguished himself from his colleagues in State Houses across Dixie.
Aug 29, 2021 · Learn about LeRoy Collins, the "Floridian of the Century" who stood up to hate and violence during the civil rights movement. He initiated Government in the Sunshine, expanded community colleges and highways, and lost a Senate bid for his stance.
About LeRoy Collins. The LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy is privileged to bear the name of LeRoy Collins, one of Florida’s greatest governors who led from 1955 to 1960 and was the first leader of a Southern state to voice support for de-segregation and civil rights.
Learn about the life and achievements of Thomas LeRoy Collins, the thirty-third governor of Florida from 1955 to 1961. He was a moderate on racial issues, created community colleges, and negotiated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
