In 1902, on June 21, in Reidsville, Georgia, Linton McGee Collins was born. 19 years later, in 1921, Collins earned an A.B. degree from Mercer University and completed his M.A. at both Mercer and Columbia University as a law student, in 1922.

He taught English for two years at Lauier High School in Macon, Georgia. He moved to South Carolina in 1924 and taught English and history for one year in Columbia, South Carolina at Columbia High School. He was then admitted to the bars of the States of Georgia and Florida in 1924 and 1925, respectively.

In 1930, he was a teacher in the department of American Government and Political Science at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. In 1933, he owned a private law practice in Florida. During the same year, he also became personnel director and division administrator of the National Recovery Administration.

In 1935, at the request of President Delano Roosevelt, Collins joined the justice department. He first served as assistant to the Deputy Attorney General and later as special assistant to the Attorney General. He stayed on until 1944. In 1944, Collins returned to private practice in Washington, D.C. and was admitted to the D.C. bar.

He was then invited to join the Board of Directors of Gallaudet College. He subsequently served as secretary in 1950-1951 and as a vice president of the board during the 1955 academic year. He served on the board until 1964.

During his tenure on the board, in 1955, he was awarded an honorary LL.D degree from Gallaudet in recognition of his work and devotion. He left his position with the board to be associate judge of the United States Court of Claims, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1964.

He died on April 12, 1972 in Washington, D.C., at the age of 69.