Edward A. Collins - 1986 Distinguished Service Awardee

At the Tulsa meeting the Distinguished Service Award of the Society of Rheology was awarded to Dr. Edward A. Collins, our current Treasurer, for his many and varied contributions to the Society. This is only the second time this award has been granted; the first recipient was Dr. R. R. Myers, in 1985. It is intended that this award be offered only occasionally and for especially meritous service.

Dr. Collins has been the Treasurer of the Society for the past 14 years, the second longest term of office of any officer the Society has ever had. Before this, he was twice elected as a member of the Executive Committee.

In addition to his more obvious service as Treasurer, he is currently Chairman of the Education Committee, which arranges our short courses and of the Site Selection Committee, and has served on both Committees since 1977.

As Treasurer of the Society he has not only kept the Society solvent through prudent management of our annual finances, but has increased our reserve steadily through wise investment of our accounts-an admirable role. During all this time he has served as a de facto Executive Secretary or Executive Vice President, for he carries a “corporate memory” of decisions, actions and desires of long past Officers and Executive Committees. He has, therefore, been the proverbial tower of strength both to the Officers and the Executive Committee, not only in his sound and well-thought-out advice but also in his ability to provide ready answers to the minutiae of our various offices.

Formally, the past four presidents of the Society, W. R. Schowalter, A. N. Gent, E. B. Bagley and I. M. Krieger gave instant warm approval for his nomination for the award.

His citation reads “for services as the Treasurer of the Society and as a behind-the-scenes mainstay of Society activities”.