A Thank You Note to Bob Collins

May 30, 2019

If we’re lucky, we get to work with talented people who challenge us and support us and make us better at what we do. If we’re really fortunate, that will happen to us more than once during our career. It’s rare, though, to be truly blessed to work with someone who is so great at what they do and so focused on doing better, themselves, that every time we see them or talk with them or experience their work, they motivate us and inspire us.

I have been lucky and fortunate and truly blessed to work with Bob Collins for the past 27 years. Bob is an original, an extraordinary man who – among his many gifts – is a wonderful writer and talented storyteller, a get-the-facts journalist and a first-rate broadcaster who has an intolerance for bureaucracy, bad leadership and things that don’t work. He has always trusted me with his candor, his constructive criticism and his deep care for our audiences and his colleagues. He’s comfortable bringing uncomfortable truths to light and he makes us all better by doing so.

I love Bob’s uncanny ability to find people and stories that most people don’t notice. He once said, “If you’re always looking where people are looking, you’ll miss the part of the story that you can only get by looking back in the other direction.”

I’m so grateful for all the times that Bob has pointed us in the “other direction” to people and stories we might have missed – people who are the best lights of the human spirit and stories that call us all to account or expose our shortcomings or raise our sights. His work makes me think, makes us all think and feel connected and want to be better.

In 2010, the Wrenshall (Minn.) High School girls basketball team made national news because of its long losing record. Bob saw a different story. He saw a story that could resonate with anyone. He introduced us to these inspiring people and a story that demonstrated “you show who you are by showing up.” His perspective made us all want to be more like the spirit of that team. His ability to see that story and then tell it so well are true gifts, and a real blessing to me and countless others.

Bob never forgets why we’re here—to serve people. Bob recently shared his daily ritual of reading the engraved bricks in the donor walk outside of the Kling Public Media Center.

“… I look down when I walk on the sidewalk outside our building. There’s always a brick there with a message to remind us why people listen … providing inspiration for us to come inside, be fearless, take a risk, not suck, and be something more than the electronic version of the local newspaper. Make people think. Make them mad if you have to. But make them THINK today.”

Bob, thank you for making us think. Thank you for helping us understand. Thank you for uncovering and telling stories we need to hear. Thank you for challenging us to be fearless and take risks. Thank you for making us – for making me – better. Thank you for showing us who you are by showing up, and for doing such great work. We are all lucky, fortunate and truly blessed that you did.

All of us at Minnesota Public Radio will miss your stories and we’ll miss you. Keep in touch and visit often.

Jon McTaggart
President & CEO