Rex Collison
Rex Collison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1884 |
| Died | June 25, 1983 |
Reginald "Rex" Collison (1884 - June 25, 1983) was an American Bahá’í who was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for pioneering to Ruanda-Urundi.
Biography[edit]
Collison was born on a farm into a Christian family in central Ohio in 1884. His family moved to the city Columbus, Ohio, in 1903 so Collison and his siblings, a brother and a sister, could attend university. He studied animal nutrition for three years then accepted a position in plant research at Cornell University where he eventually became a Professor and Chief of Research.[1]
In 1920 Collison married Mary Gale and they went on to have two daughters, Beverly and Audrey.[1] They discovered the Bahá’í Faith together in 1924, initially studying a book then meeting Howard and Mabel Ives, and they both declared in 1925 and undertook a travel teaching trip in service of the religion in 1928.[2]
In 1945 Collison retired from his position at Cornell University and he and Mary moved to Geyserville, California, where they owned a home they had purchased from John Bosch.[1] In 1952 they pioneered to Kampala, Uganda, and in May 1953 they pioneered to Ruanda-Urundi with Dunduzu Chisiza, an African Bahá’í who translated for them. They were only able to reside in Ruanda-Urundi for eighteen months but were able to secure twenty declarations in that time. They returned to Uganda from Ruanda-Urundi in 1955 where they assisted with the construction of the Kampala House of Worship and served as its custodians after it was completed.[2]
In 1966 the Collison's returned to Geyserville in America where Mary passed in 1970.[1] After Mary's passing Collison devoted his time to his relationship with his daughters, taught weekly classes for Bahá’ís and held weekly firesides, and served on his Local Spiritual Assembly.[3]
In 1983 Collison passed at the age of ninety-nine. The Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message after his passing:
DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHAULLAH REX COLLISON. HIS LONG RECORD DEVOTED SERVICES IN TEACHING PIONEERING FIELDS AT HOME AND AFRICA HAS IMMORTALIZED HIS NAME. DOUBTLESS HIS RICH REWARD ABHA KINGDOM SOURCE JOY PRIDE HIS LIFE COMPANION MARY. PRAYING SHRINES CONTINUING UNFOLDMENT HIS NOBLE SOUL WORLDS GOD.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 595. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Earl Redman, The Knights of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 2017, p 92
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 596. View as PDF.
