Missouri State

J. H. "SPEEDY" COLLINS
Football, Basketball and Track, 1920-24; Track Coach, 1924-64
Inducted October 18, 1975

Speedy Collins is one of the most famous figures in the history of Missouri State track for his long career as an athlete and coach. A native of Stockton, Missouri, he was a football, basketball, and track standout for four years at MSU from 1920 through 1924. He was a back in football, a guard-forward in basketball, and a multi-event star in track of whom it was said, "the lanky blond from Stockton enjoys throwing cinders in the opponents' face". Competing in the dashes, relays, and quarter mile, he was the MSU high point man in every track meet but one his first three years with the Bears. He was the MSU track captain in 1922, was the high point man in the 1923 state meet with 11 1/3 points, and ran on state championship track teams all four of his MSU seasons. He was the MSU track coach almost continually from 1925 to 1947 and coached Bear teams to four MIAA titles in that period as well as serving as an assistant coach in other sports. In addition, he was the Greenwood High School coach from 1924 until his retirement in 1964 and coached the Bluejays to 13 basketball championships and 12 football titles. He had six unbeaten football seasons at Greenwood. He was instrumental in the Greenwood Blue and Gold Basketball Tournament for many years and his long track service to MSU is honored each year in the MSU Relays with the running of the Speedy Collins Mile Relay.