Monday, Oct. 25, 2004 | 8:46 a.m.
When Martin Collins made a business deal for one of his many development projects in Southern Nevada, a written contract was never needed -- his handshake was his bond.
"When he told you something, you knew you had his word," said longtime friend and business associate Gary Cook. "He was the epitomy of honesty and integrity. He was the most trustworthy guy you could ever meet."
Collins, who with his late brother E.A. "Al" Collins, designed, developed and built over 30 residential projects throughout Las Vegas and the western United States through their Collins Brothers Development, died Thursday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. He was 72.
Services for the Las Vegas resident of 52 years will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Viators Catholic Church, 2461 E. Flamingo Road. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at Palm Mortuary-Eastern.
Collins Brothers Development built some of the first subdivisions in Paradise Valley just south of the Las Vegas city limits as well as Spanish Oaks and the Lakes at West Sahara.
"Martin was one of the pioneers and an instrumental contributor in introducing the master-planned community concept to Las Vegas," said Collins' daughter-in-law, Julie Collins. "Because of this exceptional, forward thinking man, who kept a perpetual smile on his face, hundreds of people in Las Vegas live and work in facilities developed and built in part by Martin M. Collins."
Friends and family described Collins as a giving man who loved doing business and enjoyed everything about life.
"Martin was generous to a fault," Cook said. "Honesty, integrity and fairness were the cornerstones of the way he did business. He was loved by everyone and had such a positive attitude about life. He never sat still."
Among his many interests, Collins enjoyed skiing, boating, fishing and golf, Cook said.
Perhaps one of his most favorite pastimes, however, was racing off-road vehicles with business partner and friend of 40 years, Jerry Herbst, owner of Terrible Herbst.
"Martin and I used to race cars and in fact won the Baha 500 in 1970," Herbst said. "His boy Brian and my three sons now race and (Martin) and I would watch the boys by helicopter. It was our way of keeping in touch with what the boys were doing. He was very interested in what his son was doing -- a big family man. That's just the kind of guy he was."
Born Feb. 12, 1932, in Oakland, Calif., Collins served in the Air Force during the Korean War and came to Las Vegas in 1952.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline Collins; son, Brian Collins; daughter, Lauri Collins; daughter-in-law, Julie Collins; and grandchildren, Courtney, Brian Jr., Chelsey and Tristan.
The family said donations can be made in Collins' memory to the City of Hope, Attn: Dr. Tim Wilson, Urology Dept., 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010.
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