President and Mrs. Donald P. Wharton hosted a dinner at the Bedford Village Inn on May 6 to honor 79 benefactors of Plymouth State University, and celebrate Richard E. Collins. Collins, affectionately known as “R.E.,” is the namesake and first recipient of the Richard E. Collins Philanthropy Medal.

The medal was named and awarded in recognition of Collins’ “uncommon generosity to Plymouth State University as a member of the Plymouth State University President’s Council.” PSU was proud to name the new student art gallery in his honor, and the atrium entrance of Boyd Science Center in memory of his late wife, Jeannette Morey Collins.

The Collinses established Collinette Kennels in Wilton, N.H., breeding some of the state’s finest collie champions. R.E. founded, and was the first president of, the Collie Club of New Hampshire. For more than 15 years he taught at the high school level in both Maine and New Hampshire. After retiring in 1980, he moved to Alton, N.H. He has long been a most beloved friend and benefactor of Plymouth State University.

The Richard E. Collins Philanthropy Medal will honor future recipients for exhibiting R.E.’s spirit, and the same distinguished philanthropy to Plymouth State University.
—MBH