Dennis P. Collins was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Democratic party

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 who served as the 24th mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey

Bayonne, New Jersey

Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...

 from 1974 until his retirement in 1990.

Born and raised in Bayonne, Collins attended St. Vincent De Paul grammar school and Holy Family Academy. He served in the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 for three years during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Collins was elected to the Bayonne City Council in 1962, and served 12 years until being elected as mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

. His four terms in office make him the longest serving mayor in Bayonne city history. Collins served as a Democratic elector from New Jersey in the 2000 Presidential election.

Legacy

The largest city park in Bayonne is named for Collins, and in 2007 the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

named the city's Main Post Office in his honor.