Richard Henry "Hank" Collins, Jr.

Richard Henry “Hank” Collins, Junior passed away peacefully at his home in Vestavia Hills on Friday, September 27, 2019. He is survived by his beloved wife Irene Burton Collins, son Michael Jeremiah Collins (Rachel) of Mountain Brook, Alabama, step-daughters April Southard McAnnally (Sid) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Melissa Southard Jones of Birmingham, Alabama, and Dana Dillard Garvin (Dwight) of Homewood, Alabama, grandchildren Ava Amelia Collins of Mountain Brook, Alabama, Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott (Jordan) of Asheville, North Carolina, Parker Yates McAnnally (Emily) of Nashville, Tennessee, Fielding Jackson Dillard of Louisville, Kentucky, Preston Moran Jones of Birmingham, Alabama, Caroline Carson Dillard of New York City, New York, Samuel Stratis Garvin of Auburn, Alabama, Lucy McEachern Jones of Birmingham, Alabama, Kathryn Elizabeth Garvin of Homewood, Alabama, Charles Collins Dillard of Homewood, Alabama, and one great grandchild, Jones McAnnally Scott of Asheville, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Henry and Nan Jones Collins, and his son Richard Henry Collins III.

Hank was born in Homewood on September 15, 1937. After attending Shades Valley High School and graduating from Marion Military Institute Junior College, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1960 at the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.

After graduation, Hank enlisted in the United States Army and served 2 years at Fort Ord in California before being accepted to the Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Later he served 19 months of duty with the 3rd Infantry Division in Kitzingen, Germany before he volunteered to serve in Vietnam. He was assigned as platoon leader of the 4th Platoon. From November 1965 to November 1966, he flew daily surveillance flights in the fixed-wing Cessna L-19 “The Mighty Birddog,” serving alongside the advisors of the 21st Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In recognition of his service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, as well as 3 Cross of Gallantry medals awarded to him by the Republic of South Vietnam. He later served as the Operations Officer at Wright Army Airfield at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

After receiving his honorable discharge, Hank returned to the Birmingham area and was employed as an Area Sales Manager for the John Harland Company. He joined SouthTrust Bank in 1982 as the manager of the Commercial Development Department, earned his Master of Public and Private Management degree at Birmingham-Southern College in 1986, and retired as a Senior Vice President of the bank in 2006.

In addition to his successful career in business, Hank has graciously and generously given his time, energy, and talents to serve others. His extensive volunteer activities included serving on the President’s Advisory Committee of Marion Military Institute, serving as President of the American Cancer Society for the Shelby–Jefferson County Region, working with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham-area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Edward Lee Norton Board for Management and Professional Education at Birmingham–Southern College, and the Board of Directors of the Southern Museum of Flight. In 2017, he received the Glenn E. Messer Trophy for his ongoing contributions of interest, time, and effort to the continued growth of the Southern Museum of Flight.

In recent years, Hank pursued his interest in writing and actively participated in the Writing Today organization. He won the Hackney Literary Award for Alabama State Story for “Faces” in 2005. He penned two books, Eyes Over the Delta and Looking Back. Eyes Over the Delta is a series of short stories depicting a soldier’s life in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta during 1965 and 1966. Looking Back is a series of stories about growing up in the South during a much less turbulent time.

He will be missed for his wit and sense of humor.

The family would like to invite friends and family to a visitation on Monday, September 30, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Ridout’s Valley Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 12 o’clock. Immediately following the service all are invited to greet the family during a reception at Valley Chapel. Burial will be Monday at 2:45 PM at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. In lieu of flowers, Hank’s family suggests donations to the Southern Museum of Flight, 4373 73rd St North, Birmingham, AL 35206, attention Brian Dasani.