Collins Honored with 2011 Mary Walker Award
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 | 06:17am
Nashville, Tennessee --- A Johnson City woman is the recipient of the Board of Probation and Parole’s highest employee award. Margie Collins, BOPP’s Deputy District Director for upper east Tennessee, is the 2011 recipient of the Mary Walker Award, which recognizes both professional and personal excellence.
Board Chairman Charles Traughber said, “BOPP has a highly competent, professional staff. But this award honors the very best; individuals who are dedicated to creating better communities both at work and in their personal lives. Mrs. Collins richly deserves this honor.” The Mary Walker Award is given in memory of a former parole board member known for her strong work ethic and her commitment to humanitarianism. There is only one honoree each year. This is the 24th year the award has been presented.
Margie Collins has worked in the field of probation and parole for her entire career. Since her graduation from East Tennessee State University, she has been a Probation and Parole Officer, and was later promoted to manager. Collins has supervised the implementation of many criminal justice projects and has worked to develop stronger ties with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. She has also served the agency in the development, interpretation and monitoring of program policies, guidelines and procedures. In 2010, she was promoted to Deputy Director for District 1, which includes Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties.
In the community, Collins gives her time to causes including the Girls Clubs, Tennessee Women’s Ministries and the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness. She has worked on the Orchestra Parents Committee at Science Hill High School, as well as on numerous special events to promote alcohol and drug-free lifestyles and family safety. She regularly gives her time to speak at events on child protection, drug awareness and other public safety issues.
Robert Henshaw, BOPP District 1 Director, said, “Margie Collins’ commitment to public safety and offender success is unmatched. Her receipt of the Mary Walker Award is emblematic of her dedicated and hard work in our criminal justice community.”
Collins is the daughter of Sue Bunting and the late Barton Bunting of Mountain City. She is married to Bryant Collins, and they have one daughter.
The Board of Probation and Parole (www.tn.gov/bopp/) is an independent seven-member board whose members are appointed by the Governor. The Board is charged with the responsibility of deciding which eligible felony offenders will be granted parole and released from incarceration to community-based supervision. Along with the supervision of those granted parole, the Board is also responsible for supervising felony offenders who are placed on probation by criminal courts.
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