In January of 1973, Collins Communications, Inc. was formed. The ownership was split between Ed Collins, 52% and Larry Tanner, Rod Thornton and Emil Pendleton ,16% each. Ed retained ownership of all of the towers and the rental radios. The newly formed corporation was to benefit from the sales and service operations.

Ed began to lose interest in the two-way radio business and was wanting to spend more time pursuing his true calling, flying. He had an airplane that he used for charter flights for Antelope Airlines on their Gillette-Casper route. Some conflicts arose and Ed asked to be bought out to resolve them. Larry, Rod and Emil agreed to buy his shares in the corporation, the towers and rental radios and the Radio Common Carrier operation.

Ed moved on and became a real estate developer and a fixed base operator for Executive Air, before leaving Gillette to become a bush pilot and later a pilot for Continental Airlines. Larry, Rod and Emil were left with a few towers, some rental radios, a ten year note on the business, a friendly banker and an oil boom. By 1983, Collins Communications, Inc. had increased the number of towers and rental radios, sold a tremendous amount of two-way equipment, planned a new addition, crashed an airplane on the North Pumpkin Butte, added some long term employees, employed a bunch of short term employees, and learned about lawyers, accountants and government personnel such as, IRS agents, the Executive Secretary of the Wyoming PSC and the auditors with the Wyoming Revenue and Taxation Department. By the end of 1983, the boom had busted and the decision  to postpone the building addition was agreed upon. The product line added home satellite systems, citizen’s band radios, telephones, alarms, microwave systems, do-it-yourself cellular systems, just to name a few.

In the 1990's came cellular. Collins Communications became the premier cellular sales group in northeast Wyoming, thereby putting themselves out of the RCC business. In 1991, Steve Hamby came on board, bringing with him the key to the coal mining two-way radio business. In 1992, Cheryl Dittus came for a year-long visit. She decided to return to stay in May of 1993, becoming the Office and Financial Manager.

Ken Zimmerman was hired to be the General Manager and Steve Hamby was named Sales Manager. Rick Murray hired on in June of 1993, learning the installation and service aspects of two-way radios before taking over the fire and burglar alarm operations. Shane Miller came to work at Collins Communications in August of 1994, leaving for the Campbell County School District in August of 1995.

Other personnel came and went. Ken Zimmerman quit and Cheryl was appointed General Manager. Rick assumed more responsibility, taking over the telephone area of the business along with the alarms. Brady Terrell took over dispatching and we all tried to keep up with the onset of the Coal Bed Methane Boom.

Keith Reeves became the first retiree from Collins Communications and it was becoming obvious that Larry, Rod and Emil were envious. The decision was made that the old building, and the world’s most used toilet, needed to be replaced. Michael’s Construction was awarded the bid and Gene Dittus was hired to oversee the job of constructing the new home of Collins Communications, Inc. We moved into our palatial new digs with, two, count ‘em, two restrooms. Everyone agreed it was high time.

An agreement was reached between Rod, Larry and Emil to pass on ownership of Collins Communications, Inc. to Cheryl Dittus , Rick Murray and Shane Miller. By the time the form and substance of the agreement was finalized in July of  2002, the new owners were firmly in control and the diversified electronics firm was also an internet service provider.