Richard Clark Collins

Richard Clark Collins lost his battle with brain cancer and died at Ogeechee Area Hospice, in Statesboro on Sunday, September 8, 2024.

Although Clark was not raised in a Christian home, he was drawn to church through Youth Activities. In 1963, he gave his life to Christ at the Methodist Youth Camp in Leesburg, Florida.

Clark's father was his lifesaver, a Florida outdoorsman who enjoyed exploring and hunting and fishing. He taught Clark everything he knew. He was Clark's high school football and track coach. Clark excelled in football, playing both ways. He was a four year lettermen, and received the Most Valuable Player Award from the Stuart,Florida Newspaper his senior year. Track was his true love. Clark ran the hurdles, and the relays, and pole-vaulted. He competed at the State Championship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida for three years.

After high school graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. Upon coming home, Clark decided to help young people by teaching and coaching. He enrolled at Miami Dade Junior College's per-education program. It was in a History class that he met his "one life, one love”, Maggie, also a pre-education major.They married in July 1971 and moved to Statesboro to finish their education at Georgia Southern College renowned for their Teacher Preparation Programs.

Clark felt he was following God's plan when he did his student teaching at Statesboro High School. In the fall of 1974, Ronnie Hodges hired him to teach Driver's Education and coach football. Later, Clark would also teach Physical Education and Health. He began coaching track in 1976, and hosting the Statesboro Relays every spring. Twenty schools from across Georgia would travel to compete against the best. His teams went on to win the GHSA Region Championship nine times. He was recognized as Coach of the Year, many times. He took his teams to Jefferson,Georgia for the State Championships twenty-four straight years. His reputation as a Track coach spread statewide and he was called to Atlanta to be inducted into the Atlanta Track Club.

Even after retirement in 2005, he volunteered another ten years starting track meets and supplying the Concession Stand. He was inducted into Statesboro High School's Hall of Fame, as an Honoree in 2000.

In 1975, Clark and Maggie joined Statesboro First United Methodist Church where Clark ushered for more than 20years and chaired many important committees in the church. Building wheel chair ramps and Habitat Houses through the church earned him a Deen Day Smith,Service to the Community Award in 2002.