Bakersfield College honored former Bakersfield College president Dr. John Collins by renaming Campus Center for him.

The ceremony, which attracted a number of community members, was held Sept. 10.

“This building is the students’ building,” he said during the dedication, adding he was ” very proud it’s going to carry my name.”

A graduate of Coalinga Junior College and UC Berkeley, Collins commanded an infantry unit in World War II before becoming a teacher at Bakersfield College. He later served as a veterans’ counselor at BC in 1947.

Collins has served as a school counselor, history professor, men’s track coach and president of the faculty association. In 1975, he helped start the Bakersfield College Foundation which has raised money for college programs and events for 28 years.

Collins left Bakersfield College when he was named founding president of Moorpark College in 1966. Nine years later, he returned to BC as president until his retirement in 1983, ending a career spanning 56 years.

” I don’t remember all 56 of those years,” he said.

He thanked students and BC President Dr. Sandra Serrano for naming such a central part of campus after him.

“Only a few students major in Campus Center,” he joked.