WILBUR L.COLLINS, 94, of Victoria, Texas passed away November 28, 2018. He was a Leap Year baby, born February 29, 1924 in Chicago, IL to Clarence and Daisy Collins. His father passed away in 1928 when Wilbur was four. Following that, he went to live on a farm with his Aunt Viola and Uncle Emery Conder in Knox County, Ohio. He attended High School in Butler, Ohio where he learned to play all of the brass instruments. Following High School graduation, he studied with the first trombonist in the Cleveland Orchestra. When he was drafted into the Army during WWII, he played trombone in several Army bands. Then following his discharge, he returned to Chicago to study Theory at the American Conservatory. Then he became a member of the Civic Orchestra, training ground for the Chicago Symphony. Wilbur played three years with the Chicago Businessmen’s Symphony, and during this time, he taught students how to play brass instruments at the Wurlitzer School of Music, and the North Park College for three years. He later received Bachelor and Masters degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and did post graduate work at Tanglewood, Massachusetts (conducting scholarship).
Desiring warmer weather, he moved his young family in 1949 to Hallsville, Texas where he taught High School band.
Then in 1950 he moved his family to Victoria, Texas. He was hired by Victoria College as the first band director. He started the band and taught for 33 years (1950-1983). He was one of the first two faculty members to be granted leave with half-pay under a new program at Victoria College to assist instructors in furthering their education. He used this opportunity to work on his Doctorate and taught at North Texas State University.
He loved to travel and has visited many countries around the world. He spent some of his summers guiding tours, one summer for Thomas Cooke, and five summers for American Express. He also took his family on many exciting trips. During his spare time he directed several church choirs in Victoria and has had several choral and instrumental compositions published. He was also the founder of the Annual Victoria Jazz Festival that featured The Victoria College Jazz Band as well as other area jazz bands. He was always interested in building quality hi-fi equipment, so after his retirement from the college he founded Concertronics Recording Specialists. Family and friends were trained to help produce quality audio and video recordings. They travelled all over Texas recording bands, choirs and orchestras. Wilbur recorded the Victoria Symphony, the Clear Lake Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony and the Victoria Bach Festival. He had a great passion for classical music and was one of the earliest supporters of the Victoria Bach Festival. A number of his recordings were sent to NPR, some which were broadcast.
Survivors include sons, John Collins and wife Jessica, Clark Collins and wife Rosalind, Curtis Collins; daughters, Evelyn Kohl and husband William (Billy), Donna Janko Brown, and Carol Kass, 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, aunt and uncle, he was preceded in death by a son, David Collins and brother, Albert Collins and Dorothy Collins, the mother of his 7 children.
A Memorial celebrating Wilbur’s life will be held December 8, 2018, at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Victoria Bach Festival.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com
