Tribute to Marg Collins

>Tonight the Elwood Smith Community Center was dedicated in memory of Marjorie Collins, who served as president of the Elwood Smith Park Council from 1977 until her death last year in 2007. Although I had not known Marg for as long as many of the others at the dedication, she had an immense impact on me by taking me to my first public meetings and encouraging me to speak up. Her long-time neighborhood friends spoke of this same influence on their lives and how much she is missed.

Back in 1976 the park was not safe because of vandals. The community came together and created the Park Council. Marg was very inclusive as she worked to make sure that everyone in the community was represented. They attended a City Council meeting to explain what the community wanted for the park. At the time, the City was considering tearing down the “Teen Center”. These citizens convinced the City Council that they could make the park a place that could be enjoyed by everyone and the building was saved.

Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks, spoke at the dedication. He told everyone that nothing can solve a community problem better than the actual community coming together and being involved, as in this situation.

He had nothing but the highest praise for Marg. He said she was someone you always wanted to work with. “Marg was always the nicest person, but she was tough. She was not going to put up with the problem not being solved, but always it was in a positive, gentle, kind way.”

Betsy Thompson, Superintendent of Recreation, joined Burt Hall to show the plaque to Marg’s daughter, Kathy Miller, and her granddaughter, Erin, who came up from Virginia for the gathering. The plaque will be added under the picture of the ribbon cutting for the current Elwood Smith Center which was renovated and rededicated in 2001.

For those of you who don’t know, in 1956 Elwood Smith was the first firefighter to die in the line of duty in Rockville. He was with other firefighters trying to save people in the flooding waters of Rock Creek when he died, a hero.

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