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Longtime
journalist gets top state honor
December
6, 2006
By RICHARD
WHITING
Executive
news editor
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| William A. “Bill” Collins,
the executive editorial editor of The Index-Journal,
receives the Order of the Palmetto from state Rep. Mike
Pitts Tuesday in Greenwood. The Order of the Palmetto is
the highest civilian honor awarded by the governor.
| William A. “Bill” Collins got
more than his usual serving of chicken livers, fried chicken
and other goodies at The Index-Journal’s annual Christmas
party Tuesday. He also was served the state’s highest civilian
honor given by the governor, the Order of the
Palmetto.
State Rep. Mike Pitts surprised Collins when he
showed up at the newspaper’s annual feast, with Collins’ wife,
Betsy, their two sons and other family members in tow, to make
the presentation.
Surrounded by family and co-workers,
Collins listened as Pitts explained why he had nominated
longtime newspaperman and Index-Journal editor Collins for the
award.
“Freedom of the press is very important because it
keeps the public informed of what we in government are doing
for them, to them,” Pitts said.
The lawmaker then pointed
to what he has seen as a problem in recent years in the field
of journalism, print and broadcast. It occurred “right after
Watergate,” Pitts said, when “the media in all forms tended to
go toward sensationalism and try to make their own stories ...
rather than use facts and let” the public decide. But Collins,
Pitts said, has always presented both sides of an issue — and
fairly.
Pitts said he nominated Collins for the award
because of the editor’s continual protection of First
Amendment rights, which in turn protects other
rights.
Pitts admitted that on more than one occasion
Collins has, in his editorials, taken a position contrary to
his own. But that doesn’t stop him from praising Collins.
Collins has allowed Pitts’ viewpoint, and the viewpoint of
others, to be known through the news and editorial pages, and
he presents balanced and reasoned commentary on the issues, he
said. Pitts also commended Collins for his support of yet
another important constitutional amendment, the Second
Amendment.
“The only one I know that protects the
Constitution more (than the First Amendment) is the Second
Amendment because it gives us the ability to revolt against a
tyrannical government,” Pitts said.
With help from Collins’
longtime friend Emmett Davis, Pitts presented Collins a
National Rifle Association bronzed statue of “The
Paratrooper,” representing Collins’ defense of the country and
the Constitution’s first and second amendments as soldier and
journalist.
“It’s an unexpected honor and I thank Governor
Sanford and Representative Pitts for it,” Collins said of
receiving the state’s highest honor.
“I’m not sure I
deserve such recognition, but I’m absolutely positive that all
the people I’ve worked with and for over the years do.
Although I have been fortunate to work on great newspapers,
none rates higher than The Index-Journal. The confidence shown
me by the late Frank and Eleanor Mundy was
incomparable.
“That continued with their daughter Judi as
publisher, and I am grateful for that, too. She has always
given me and this ‘family’ the kind of support that makes
coming to work every morning a joy. The people of Greenwood
and South Carolina? They speak for themselves. It shows, too.
All the proof needed is all around us every day. They are more
worthy of the Order of the Palmetto than
I.”
Governor’s remarks
Pitts also
shared a letter written to Collins by the governor.
In his
letter, Sanford wrote:
“You have an outstanding record as
an unbiased journalist who reports the facts on all sides of
an issue and lets the reader reach his own conclusion. Your
reputation for fairness has followed you all the days of your
professional life from your tenure with The Times Dispatch in
Richmond, Va., to your award-winning leadership with The
Index-Journal today.
“As Rep. Mike Pitts wrote me on your
behalf, you have protected our freedoms with a gun and our
institutions with a pen! You have also been tireless as an
ambassador for many causes, and I am impressed just looking at
the breadth of your devotion to others — the Greenwood Genetic
Center, the boards of visitors of Lander University, Piedmont
Technical College and Erskine College, the board of trustees
of Francis Marion University, your church, and numerous other
civic, church and professional endeavors too numerous to
mention.
“In addition, I, along with my fellow South
Carolinians and all Americans, thank you for your service in
the United States Army during the Korean War.
“South
Carolina has greatly benefited from your tremendous work and
your steadfast commitment to your fellow man. Your legacy of
generosity and leadership continues to thrive because you
uphold the highest ideals in serving
others.”
About “Bill”
Collins
Collins is a Florence native and U.S. Army
veteran. He was one of the original Airborne Rangers, having
completed his training prior to the age of 18.
A graduate
of the University of South Carolina, Collins has done
everything on newspapers from sports to crime reporting to
editing and publishing, in Greenwood, Columbia and Richmond.
He was publisher of the Alexandria (Va.) Gazette in that
Washington, D.C., suburb. It was owned by The State newspaper,
of Columbia.
Collins was director of public relations and
advertising for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of South Carolina and
chief of the USC news service. He also has served in Charlotte
as public relations manager for the Associated General
Contractors of the Carolinas.
Collins is married to the
former Betsy Heeseman, of Charlotte. He has three children and
five grandchildren, with another on the way.
Collins has
lived in Greenwood twice and has been active in civic and
service organizations in Greenwood and the state. He has
served The Index-Journal as editor, executive editor, general
manager and executive editorial editor for 28 years.
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