In the summer of 2014, Collins generously donated his priceless collection of Alamo and Texana artifacts to the Texas General Land Office, guardian of the Alamo on behalf of the people of Texas.
Collins built the collection over several decades, purchasing some items and even discovering some others just steps away from the Alamo itself.
Collins fell in love with the Alamo's inspiring story as a 5-year-old boy, when he saw the Disney production of Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. When other children were out playing cops and robbers or other childhood games, Collins says that he was re-enacting the Battle of the Alamo.
That love soon became his "passion" – collecting Alamo artifacts, weapons, relics and original documents.
Pretty sure my dad was a Davy Crocket kid and he's 79. Definitely done by the time I was born in the early 80s.
The only reason I know who Davie Crockett is is because of the disney channel 30 years ago and even at the time, that shit was OLD.
Same with Johnny Appleseed.
Yeah, like our gen knew about it from old movies or BTTF and Wonder Years and my dad watching reruns on TV.
My stepdad would be 73 this year and he used to sing the theme song all the time, had the raccoon skin hat as a kid, read the comics, etc. Like we'd be driving around and he'd suddenly burst out "DAVIE...DAAAAAVIE CROCKETT...KING OF THE WILD FRONTIEEEEEER..."
This was my mom and dad. They'd randomly belt out the theme song. Believe we had the racoon hat thing. I'll have to ask them if they ever were fans. I think they were.
Feel like I probably had this as I had loads of stuff like that as a kid.
Feel like I probably had this as I had loads of stuff like that as a kid.