Sam L. Collins

Collins was born in Fortville, Indiana, attended public schools in Indiana and California, and graduated from Chaffey Union High School, Ontario, California, in 1915.{{Cite web |last=Bioguide |first=Search |date=April 13, 2024 |title=COLLINS, Samuel LaFort |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000643 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}

He served as a private in the Hospital Corps, Seventh Infantry, California National Guard on the Mexican border in 1916.

From 1917 to 1919, he served in the United States Army overseas as a sergeant in Co. C, 364th Infantry, 91st Division. After discharge from the Army, Collins studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1921, and practiced in Fullerton, California.

File:Sam L. Collins (California Congressman).jpg

He was assistant district attorney of Orange County, California, 1926–1930 and district attorney 1930–1932.

In 1932 Collins was elected to the 73rd Congress, and reelected, serving during 1933–1937. He lost his bid for reelection to a third term in 1936.

Collins served as member of the California State Assembly for the 75th district from 1941 to 1953,{{cite web|title= Join California – Sam L. Collins|url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5443|website=joincalifornia.com}} serving as speaker 1947–1952. Collins was the longest-serving Speaker in California history until the record was broken by Jesse M. Unruh, who was speaker from 1961 to 1969. Collins is the fifth-longest-serving Speaker behind Leo T. McCarthy (1974–1980), Anthony Rendon (2016-2023), Unruh, and Willie Brown (1980–1995). Collins is the longest-serving Republican Speaker.

After serving in the Assembly, he resumed the practice of law.

Collins died at the age of 69 in Fullerton and is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park.

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1932 United States House of Representatives elections[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1932election.pdf 1932 election results]}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Sam L. Collins

| votes = 56,889

| percentage = 51.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = B. Z. McKinney

| votes = 51,796

| percentage = 46.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Liberty Party (United States, 1932)

| candidate = Horatio S. Hoard

| votes = 2,873

| percentage = 2.6

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 111,558

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

| percentage =

}}

{{Election box new seat win

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 1934 United States House of Representatives elections[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1934election.pdf 1934 election results]}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Sam L. Collins (Incumbent)

| votes = 97,119

| percentage = 88.8

}}

{{Election box candidate no party in partisan race no change

| candidate = A. B. Hillabold (write-in)

| votes = 12,301

| percentage = 11.2

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 109,420

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

| percentage =

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{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

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{{reflist}}

• {{Bioguide}}

{{CongBio|C000643}}

• {{Find a Grave|9698}}

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{{US House succession box| state=California| district=19| before=District created| after=Harry R. Sheppard| years=March 3, 1933 – January 3, 1937}}

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{{succession box |title=California State Assemblyman, 75th District |before=Thomas Kuchel|after=LeRoy E. Lyon Jr. |years=January 6, 1941 – January 5, 1953}}

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{{succession box | title=Speaker of the California State Assembly | before=Charles W. Lyon | after=James W. Silliman | years=January 1947 – August 1952}}

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Category:1895 births

Category:1965 deaths

Category:Speakers of the California State Assembly

Category:Republican Party members of the California State Assembly

Category:United States Army soldiers

Category:United States Army personnel of World War I

Category:People from Fullerton, California

Category:People from Ontario, California

Category:American Disciples of Christ

Category:People from Hancock County, Indiana

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California

Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature

Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives

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