Evening star., 1953-06-10
Collins Resigns
As Recreation
Board Member
Chuirmun BIumes
Reoppointment Of
Mrs. Hunter
By james 6. Deone

The Recreation Board today
had no chairman.
Col. Frank H. Collins resigned
yesterday. Chairman for the past
year. he said he was quitting
because the Commissioners on
Monday reappointed Mrs. Alice
c. Hunter to the board.
But the ex-Army officer also
disclosed - and other board
members confirmed-that he
faced possible custer as chair
man at a meeting last night.
Col. Collins said he quit yes
terday afternoon to forestall any
such action.
Col. Collins and other board
members have been involved for
months in a running feud over
the boards racial policies. The
chairman unsuccessfully fought
the ending of race bars at con-
troversial Rosedale playground
last fall and again at the Twin
Oaks playground, at Fourteenth
and Taylor streets NV, last
week. He also opposed bi-racial
use of Rosedale's swimming pool,
voted recently.
Asked Replacement.
The chairman had specifically
asked the Commissioners to re-
place Mrs. Hunter, the boards
only Negro member, nominating
two other colored persons. He
also had objected to the ap-
pointment of Board Member
Henry Gichner last year.
Mr.. Gichner, now vice chair
man, voted with the majority
against Col. Collins in the Rose
dale and Twin Oaks decisions and
he was being doomed to replace
the colonel as chairman.
The boards regular June meet
ing was held last night. Col. Col
linS did not attend and Mr.. Gich-
ner presided in his stead. One
action was final approval Of BIZ
racial use of Twin Oaks
Normally officers would have
been elected for the next year at
this session, but the board put
the election off until next month
because it hadn't received official
notice of Col. Collins resignation.
Col. Collins delivered a resigna-
tion letter to Godfrey Thornett,
secretary to the Commissioners,
at mid-afternoon yesterday. The
letter stated that he was resign
ing effective Immediately.
Final, Says Collins.
Later, a District Building aide
telephoned the resigning official
and asked him to call Commits
Sioner Spencer'S Office today. And
Commissioner Renah F. Camalier
told reporter he planned to ask
Col. Collins to reconsider.
Col. Collins. however, said his
action is final.
The resigned chairman said he
was displeased with the actions
of the city heads with respect to
the board.
He accused the Commissioners
of making the board a political
football"
"They got the board packed
on me. I'm in a minority, and
there's no use my being on it
that way" he said.
He also charged that the city
heads "are absolutely controlling
the board now"
Denial by CamaIier.
Commissioner Camalier denied
this is the case. He also denied
the board is being used as a
football, or that Mrs. Hunters
views on racial questions had
any part in her reappointment
He nominated Mrs. Hunter for
reappointment, he said.
Mrs. Hunter has been on the
board IL years." the Commits
sioner continued. with her
background of experience, and
knowledge of conditions, ]
thought we should not sacrifice
the opportunity to have the
benefit of it,"
Col. Collins. who besides his
Recreation Board activity has
been active in the city's civil de-
fense organization and other
civic work, was appointed to the
board in November, 1851, and
succeeded Harry Wender as
chairman last June. He was a
Military Air Transport officer
during World War II.