The only Boston State College alumnus to be elected to theMassachusetts House of Representatives, the Honorable James P.Collins III was a three-year letterman in both lacrosse andfootball at Boston State College. Collins was instrumental intwo of the most memorable lacrosse seasons in the college’shistory. He also served as one of the founders of the BostonState football program, which he quarterbacked in all threeseasons, including its outstanding 6–1 finish in itsinaugural year.
While with the lacrosse program, Collins helped lead theWarriors to the first USILA Colonial League championship, afterclosing out the 1972 season with an 112 record. Thatteam would later be inducted into the UMass Boston Athletics Hallof Fame. In 1971, Collins, the team’s go-to defensivemidfielder, helped the Warriors set the single-season programrecord for wins with 12.
Off the field, Collins was active on campus and was electedstudent government president in his senior year. Followinghis graduation, Collins entered the political world and in 1977 hewas elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Hesubsequently joined the Governor Edward King administration andfound time to serve on college committees including the AlumniAssociation Board and the Michael Crowley Memorial Foundation,named for a lacrosse teammate. His son, Rep. Nick Collins,currently serves the district that includes the UMass Boston campusarea.
Collins earned his master’s degree from Boston Universityand is currently the CEO of New England Business Partners, based inBoston. He is on the board of several companies, businessgroups, and charitable organizations, including the JFK FamilyServices Center in Charlestown, his hometown. Collins and his wifeMary live in South Boston and are proud parents of Michaela,Andrew, Nick, James P. IV, Mariella, and Olivia.
