DR. LEROY COLLUM

Psychologist

Dr. Leroy Collum was passionate about helping people, and during his lengthy career as a psychologist, he helped people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Early in his career, he opened Greenhigh, a treatment center for emotionally disturbed children. Dr. Collum then went to Rusk State Hospital to work in the Geriatrics Ward. While at Rusk, he also served as Chief Psychologist and Head of Maximum Security. After leaving Rusk, he went into private practice, providing counseling, writing a book on weight loss, and helping many patients stop smoking. His practice then returned to Geriatrics, and he provided therapy to many in multiple nursing homes throughout East Texas. Dr. Collum never refused to work with patients regardless of their problem or ability to pay. In 2020 he realized the risks of continuing to counsel his patients in nursing homes. He said he could not “desert” his patients when they were “isolated and afraid” due to the COVID outbreak. He continued to work full-time until he contracted COVID and died at 86.

ARTIST: CHRIS CLARK