Kreigh Collins, the creator of both the Mitzi McCoy and Kevin the Bold comic strips, will be honored by the Ada Historical Society; his son, Kevin Collins, will be a featured speaker at the event in Ada, Michigan, on October 27, 2016.

Collins’ first comic, Mitzi McCoy, ran from 1948-1950 and was set in the fictitious town of Freedom, Michigan. He is best-known for the swashbuckling Kevin the Bold, a historical thriller that ran from 18 years beginning in 1950 in Sunday comic sections nationwide. His third strip was Up Anchor, which reflected on his own family’s time on board a schooner.

In addition to his comic strips, he was also known for his print illustrations, paintings, sketches and murals. Many of these paintings are located in the Grand Rapids Public Museum archives. In addition, his widow donated photos, documents, an oral history, and cartoon storyboards to the Grand Rapids Public Library, according to Kristin Wildes, of the Ada Historical Society.

“This event, sponsored by the Ada Historical Society, gives me a great chance to add background information and context to my grandfather’s work, and it's especially satisfying presenting it to people who knew my grandfather and his family,” said Brian Collins, Kreigh’s grandson.