Richard Kent Collings

If you were lucky enough to know Rich Collings, you knew kindness, humor, and sincerity. He had an easy smile, a gentle way about him, and a steady belief that “it’s not about what you do, it’s about what you do for others.” To those who loved him, he was Rich to friends and colleagues, Butch to family from his early years, and always Husband, Dad, and Grandpa - a man whose love and presence made every room feel a little lighter and kinder.

Born in Denver, Colorado, on July 18, 1941, to Clifford and Lucille Collings, Rich grew up with good parents who taught him the value of hard work, honesty, and helping others. Those lessons shaped every part of his life - as a coach, a mentor, and a friend.

He earned his undergraduate degree in History and his master’s in Health and Physical Education from Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado).

While working as a lifeguard at the Glenwood Springs Hot Springs pool, Rich met Carolyn Olson. The two married in late 1962 and shared many years of life together, raising their children Brady (Kendra) Collings and Kristen Collings, of whom Rich was endlessly proud.

Rich was also a deeply proud grandfather to Zia and Kai, who brought him joy and laughter beyond measure. He loved to tell stories about them and beamed with pride at their accomplishments - his face lighting up any time their names were mentioned.

During his coaching years, Rich poured himself into the sports he loved - football, wrestling, track, and women’s basketball. Though he excelled in all of them, his time coaching women’s basketball at Panhandle State University was one of his proudest chapters. It was there that the legendary term “Fustle” was born - a blend of words from a passionate moment in practice that became a symbol of grit, energy, and good humor for the whole team. Before long, Fustle appeared on t-shirts proudly worn by the women’s basketball team and students all over campus, a lasting reflection of Rich’s creativity and spirit.

If Rich didn’t know a sport well, he found another way to win - his teams would simply outrun everyone else. He believed that the best-conditioned team always had the upper hand, and his players learned quickly that effort and attitude were everything.

In 1978, Rich decided to trade the whistle for a new challenge and joined McDonald’s Corporation. He loved coaching, but he also knew he wanted to provide for his family and saw opportunity for growth in a company that valued people. What started as a practical decision became a true passion.

He thrived at McDonald’s because he loved people - and people loved him back. He was

known for being gentle, kind, and fair, the kind of leader everyone wanted to work with. During his time with the company, he even became a professor at McDonald’s Hamburger University, where his mix of humor, wisdom, and genuine care shaped countless careers. Later, he created Eagle Quest, a program for mid-level managers designed to collaborate, lead, listen, and learn together. It became something special - fostering mentorship, leadership, and connection throughout the company, a reflection of who he was at his core. Rich fully recognized that it was the mid-level managers who got things moving, who carried the vision through to completion, and he never stopped celebrating their essential role.

In 2001, Rich married Jeri Garner Collings, the beautiful and brilliant businesswoman who quickly became the love of his life. They met through McDonald’s - he was the corporate consultant, she the franchisee he was supposed to be advising - which might have made their courtship a little unconventional at first, but it was clear to everyone they were perfect for each other. Their marriage was filled with laughter, partnership, and a love that only grew deeper with time.

With Jeri came another family he welcomed with open arms - Angie (Bill) Peterson, and grandchildren Jacob (Kristina) Peterson, Meghan (John) Johnson, and Nichole (Stuart) Needham, along with eight great-grandchildren: Brooklyn, Boston, London, Isabelle, Vancouver, Connor, Danielle, and Lucy Lou.

Rich never made distinctions when it came to family. Whether by birth, marriage, or chance, if you were part of his life, you were his. To his grandchildren - every one of them - he was simply Grandpa: loving, teasing, proud, and endlessly curious about their worlds. In his eyes, there were no “steps,” only family.

Outside of work, Rich found joy in life’s simple pleasures - fishing, golf, watching football (especially cheering on his beloved Denver Broncos), and reveling in the excitement of the Olympics. He volunteered for the Atlanta Games, threw himself into supporting the Salt Lake City Olympics, and loved the spirit of competition and unity they represented.

Even in his later years, Rich continued his lifelong habit of giving back through his volunteer work at Hill Air Force Base. He took great pride in serving there; even if he never met many of the young airmen, he was busy studying and showing off the aircraft. Many joked that he knew more about the planes than the people who flew them, and he loved every minute of it.

In his final days, Rich was surrounded by compassionate care and kindness at Maple Springs. His family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the nurses, aides, and caregivers who looked after him. He loved them deeply - and the love they had for him was beautifully evident on the day he passed.

To honor Rich’s wishes, no funeral service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to one of Rich’s favorite causes, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, an organization he admired for its mission and heart.

Through all of it, Rich remained true to his greatest belief - that kindness matters most. To know him was to be seen, heard, and cared for. His legacy lives on not just in his family and friends, but in the countless people he coached, mentored, and inspired along the way.

We’ll miss his laughter, his love of the game, his curiosity about everything with wings or wheels, and the quiet way he made everyone feel special. He leaves behind lessons of compassion, humor, and hard work - and the simple reminder to “Fustle,” always.