Collins, Eugene E. - June 9, 2006, of the Town of Tonawanda, NY, beloved husband of Ruth (Kline); father of Daniel, James (Lynn) and Timothy (Wanda) Collins; brother ... Published in the Buffalo News from 6/11/2006 - 6/12/2006.

My brother-in-law, best friend and Air Force buddy, Gene Collins, passed away yesterday on the forty-fourth anniversary of the day he stood as my best man at my wedding. I decided to write this week's column as a tribute and celebration of Gene's friendship of fifty years.

I met Gene in September of 1956 at Lackland Air force Base in San Antonio, Texas when we both volunteered from our respective units to join the drum and bugle corps. I like to think we were each smart enough to realize that we could trade the psychological and physical rigors of "boot camp" for the opportunity to spend the next seven weeks marching around the parade grounds. We were posted together to Scott AFB for our technical training too, and later to 2nd Tow Target Squadron at Mitchel Field on Long Island.

Gene had a droll sense of humor, and while we were in electronics school at Scott, he kept his trumpet, even though there was no call for it there. He had a stunt he liked to perform with it. He would go outside our barracks at sunset with his horn and proceed to play an ascending "C" scale in slow and measured tones, much like you would play "Taps." However, he would always play the first seven notes and then stop, turn and march back into the barracks, thus leaving everyone within hearing range in suspense, waiting for the final note to complete the scale.

Perhaps, when Gene now approaches the Pearly Gates, he will ask to borrow Gabriel's horn. He will then play the "C" scale, ending with a celestial high C to complete his ascension onto Heaven. It would be fitting for him.

I hope you'll join me in wishing Gene "Godspeed and farewell."



Harry