Austin’s Daily Commentary – August 8, 2023

Austin Rhodes: [00:00:01] When it comes to dedicated service over a long period of time, there are very few individuals you're going to find that match the contributions of Vernon Collins, the longtime Columbia County coroner, retiring yesterday due to health reasons. Hopefully, he and his wife will have a long and peaceful retirement, be able to enjoy the the rest that they both so, so richly deserve.

Vernon came to become a friend of mine years ago at the insistence of my mother's first cousin who happened to be Tommy King Sr. Tommy knew that his health was declining. He knew that I got along with Vernon well. But he said, "Austin, pretty soon you going to have to be calling Vernon in the middle of the night instead of me, and make sure that you're on a first name basis. Because, trust me, he's a man that's going to be around for a while."

Matter of fact, when Tommy did pass away and Vernon was the heir apparent, I had to make a choice. Tommy King Jr. came to me and said that he was considering running for his father's position since he had passed away. And I told him flat out, "Tommy, your father told me he wanted Vernon in that job. And Vernon has done nothing to discourage me from enthusiastically supporting him. I'm going to say a word about you bad. But I've got I've got to endorse Vernon."

And that's what I did. Tommy Eventually, Tommy Jr. forgave me for that, but he certainly understood what so many others did. His father trusted Vernon completely, and that trust was very well founded. I know of no other public servant, again, that has been there around the clock so consistently through the last several decades as Vernon Collins. We're going to miss him completely.

And I cannot tell you enough how sad I am that my dear friend Vernon is not on the job anymore. A good and faithful servant. We appreciate his service. May his retirement be long and enjoyable. God bless Vernon Collins. We need so many more like him in public service. And that's the comment, I'm Austin Rhodes, AM 580/95.1 FM, News Talk WGAC. [00:00:01][0.0]