(Insert 2006)
January 1, 2006 J. R. (Army) Armstrong 50th Year Retirement Anniversary Recognition
April 7, 1927 Collins Gazette Changes Owners. With this issue, the Collins Gazette passes into the hands of the undersigned, J. R. (Army) Armstrong, who came here the last of the week from Des Moines, where he has been employed for the last year and a half on The Evening Tribune and Iowa Homestead. Previous to that time he conducted papers for himself for several years, and worked in various printing plants, having twenty-one years experience in the business.
Collins Community School Alumni: "Army" and Collins Community School had a mutual benefiting relationship that provided a greater benefit to the entire Collins community. Apparently Army realized early on the importance of the school to the community and a regular source of news that has wide community interest. School news under the heading "The Broadcaster" and name change to "School Optic" in 1940 had "front page ranking" in the Gazette. Little could anyone foresee Army and also the predecessors would provide an incredible valued reliable history source for the Collins community. This "school biography" would definitely be much less and likely near impossible without the Gazette resource. Army, it took fifty years after graduation for this individual to recognize you continue to be a valued member of Collins community with irreplaceable valuable information provided to us. Our belated honor to you on the 50th Year Retirement Anniversary of your career as owner/editor of Collins Gazette April 7, 1927 - January 1, 1956.
School Optic Staff Member: As for Army at the Gazette, he was editor when I started at the School Optic as a freshman. He was a gem and it was never the same after he left.
January 19, 1956 Basketball - Collins girls attained their sixteenth consecutive victory, defeating Colo 57-24 on the home court. Collins was leading at the first quarter 19-5 and at halftime 36-8 and third quarter 50-16. Lineup: Kilgore (f) 0 pts.; Spooner (f) 21 pts.; Carley (f) 11 pts.; Briles (f) 20 pts.; Christian (f) 3 pts.; Frerichs (f) 2 pts.; Heintz (g); Shultz (g); Smith (g); Hand (g); Clark (g); Kloppenborg (g).
Collins boys won another season victory over Colo 50-38. Collins led at first quarter mark 15-11 and at halftime 28-16. Lineup: Ballard (f) 11 pts.; Partridge (f) 2 pts.; Vasey (c) 15 pts.; Laird (g) 6 pts.; Morrison (g) 8 pts.; Jim Dodd (g) 8 pts.
Collins girls won their seventeenth game of the season, defeating Gilbert 61-28 in the Collins gym. Collins started slow, but started clicking in the second quarter to control the balance of the game. Lineup: Kilgore (f) 2 pts.; Spooner (f) 26 pts.; Carley (f) 11 pts.; Briles (f) 10 pts.; Christian (f) 5 pts.; Frerichs (f) 2 pts.; Heintz (g); Shultz (g); Smith (g); Hand (g); Clark (g); Kloppenborg (g).
The boys won their sixteenth season game by defeating Gilbert 63-54. The boys played a strong defensive game. Collins led at first quarter 23-11 and halftime 34-25. Lineup: Ballard (f) 16 pts.; Partridge (f) 14 pts; Vasey (c) 28 pts.; Laird (g) 11 pts.; Morrison (g) 0 pts.; Nichol (g) 0 pts.; Jim Dodd (g) 2 pts.; D. Fitzgerald (g) 0 pts.; P. Fitzgerald (g) 0 pts.; G. Smith (g) 0 pts.; Clark (g) 1 pt.; Jerry Dodd (g) 1 pt.
January 26, 1956 Honor Rolls: Freshmen - Sharon Stratton, Mary Duesbury, Sharon Clark, Mary Ann Kearns, Beverly Christian, Jane Ballard, Gary Hanson, Edward Smith, David Derby; Sophomores - Saundra Smith, Dorothy Hand, Georgiann Briles, Pat Fitzgerald; Juniors - Daisy Maxwell, Mary Jo Shultz, Jill Kilgore, Janice Heintz, Sandra Carley, David Maxwell, Elliott Partridge, Glen Novinger; Seniors - Bill Ballard, Rex Morrison, John Vasey.