Kappa Sigma brother Ted Collins, Jr., esteemed oil and gas veteran and celebrated wildcatter, passed away on January 28. Mr. Collins served as a director of several large energy companies, including RSP Permian Inc., Oasis Petroleum Inc., and Kimbell Royalty Partners. He co-founded Collins and Young LLC, a company that amassed more than 100,000 acres in the Barnett Shale, which later sold for more than $3 billion.
Collins pledged Kappa Sigma at University of Oklahoma, but transferred to UT Austin in 1957.
“I met Teddy in the dinner line his first day at the Tau Chapter. We sat together at dinner and have been good friends ever since,” said Mac Thompson ’54. "He was the wisest and most intuitive oil man I’ve ever known and a great all-around guy.”
Among his many honors, Collins was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the American Association of Professional Landmen in 2006 and was inducted into the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame in 2009. Although an industry leader in the oil and gas business, he cherished his time with family and friends and was actively involved in the Midland community where he lived.
“Teddy was the most generous and kind-hearted man you could ever hope to meet,” said Phil Pritchett ’60. “He was always helping people, both in business and in his community. He was a good friend and a truly great man.”
He is survived by his wife, Diana, their three sons, and five grandchildren.
