Conard Eugene Kaiser Gene, well known at the U.S. Patent office as Conard “Eugene” Kaiser, was a native of rural Kansas. With the assistance of his mother he enlisted in the U.S. Navy while still under age. Though younger than his 500 boot camp shipmates, Gene ranked 12th scholastically upon completion of bootcamp. He was given a naval commendation and allowed to choose his career while in the navy. A Master Chief told him that cook and signalman were the best jobs in the navy. Although later in life he would devote much time to “cooking up” new ideas, Gene chose to attend signalman’s school where he received another commendation for the highest score in his class.
After deployment to the Pacific, Gene survived a plane crash and survival in the jungles on the island of Borneo. He then served aboard a 300-foot long Auxiliary Seaplane Tender named the USS Orca. In addition to his many communications duties Gene exercised his signalmen’s school flag-making seamstress talents to make extra money, sending much of that money to his mother back home. Even at that young age, Gene was thinking far ahead.
While tending seaplanes during and after the Bikini atomic bomb tests, the Orca and entire crew were exposed to extensive radiation. Later during his “tour of the Pacific” aboard the Orca as radioman, Gene was privy to a message directed to the captain that the “Orca was unsafe for human habitation.” In spite of the ongoing radiation of the crew, the Orca continued its expedition. The vessel’s radiation levels were so high that the Orca was not even allowed into Pearl Harbor. Maintenance was completed by the onboard crew who were not allowed to leave.
After achieving the highest test scores, Gene was granted the only fleet appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, but he wanted to return to civilian life.
Using the money sent home to his mother and the G.I. Bill, Gene attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and also bought an interest in a tile contracting business. His inquisitive mind led him to question the then only method of setting tile which had to be done on a very think base of concrete. So, Gene developed “Thin Set” mortar which revolutionized and saved the tile industry world wide – tile could then be set with a thin layer of cement-based mortar. Gene went on to build a company that sold over 70% of the sales of mortar products for ceramic tile in the United States.
In the mid ’80s, after being awarded the first ever “Award of Merit” from the Southern Tile Manufacture’s Association for his many contributions to the tile industry, Gene sold his business due to health problems caused primarely from exposure to radiation. He was again told that he had only months to live. He had multiple heart surgeries (actually, was one of the first people to receive open heart surgery) and was greatly debilitated apparently due to then an undiagnosed underlying disease.
After meeting Drs. Jock and James Collins, Gene’s fertile mind was prompted to ask questions in other fields. Medicine and healing were on the forefront of his mind because of his personal health problems mostly related to his radiation exposure while onboard the USS Orca. Though granted individual U.S. Patents prior to teaming up with the twin bothers, Gene had several US patents granted as did Jay & Jock Collins. Together the three collaborated on many inventions, and since have been issued 10 U.S. patents.
Jock considers Gene “the most logical person he has ever met”. Gene use to say, “If it’s not logical, it’s not true.” Gene was able to “take the next step in his thinking.” Unfortunately, Gene passed away in Dec 2009. His contributions to science and humanity have been truly remarkable.
Dr. Jock R. Collins, B.S., D.V.M. Dr. Jock R. Collins and his younger twin brother, Jay, hail from Galveston County, Texas where they were born at home, the youngest of seven children. Their birthday is shared with Gene Kaiser, who they met nearly a third of a century later. Growing up in tiny rural Hitchcock, Jock learned early on that hard work accomplished much but that thinking plus hard work accomplished much more. Business life started with meager beginnings milking cows and selling the milk to neighbors, and eventually hitch-hicking to Texas A&M University to begin college. Often told he was not smart enough to go to A&M, Jock became the first in his family to graduate from college with multiple degrees. He was designated a Distinguished Student in the process and eventually was honored as a Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine Outstanding Alumnus. Jock and his wife Vicki have endowed a scholarship at TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine.
His myriad of jobs and entrepreneurial spirit during those school years provided the funds for him to pay his way through A&M. He and Jay worked summers in oil refineries and chemical plants. In thanks to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Jock, his wife Vicky and daughters Laura and Lorraine recently granted an Endowed Scholarship to assist other needy students.
Though he could have stayed on and quickly gained more degrees, Jock decided to move on and became a United States Federal Inspection and Quarantine officer in locations across the United States. Jock later joined his brother Jay in a private veterinary practice where they worked together for many years before Jock opened an additional office.
Jock’s varied interests started with reaching Eagle Scout and receiving the highest honor of the “Order of the Arrow”, in addition at a very young age serving on many professional and civic boards/committees. His interest in learning and teaching was exemplified by his many years serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He served as president and officer of many national, state and local professional organizations.
Jock’s passions include fishing, scuba diving, hunting and anything outdoors. He worked with his brother Jay in the laboratory perfecting ideas and processes, many of which have resulted in patents. He passed away peacefully at home on March 31, 2017.
Dr. James Collins, D.V.M. Jay, as Dr. James Collins is more commonly known, was the unexpected family addition after Jock came into this world. As is usually the case with twins, they worked closely together all of their lives.
Jay graduated from high school as the “Best All-Around Boy Student” while also receiving a scholarship to Texas A&M University. He graduated a Distinguished Student as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The scholarship plus working at many different jobs with his twin brother allowed him to pay his way through college as well.
After fulfilling his Selective Service obligations as a Federal Inspector, Jay began private practice in 1959 after the brothers personally built their first clinic. He served as president and officer of many national, state and local prfessional organizations. He has lectured nationally and worldwide on allergy and immunology and other diverse subjects. Fun for him is passing a test to verify that a subject is at least understood. This “fun” led him to become an Eagle Scout, a certified Scuba diver, a licensed amateur radio operator and a U.S. Coast Guard Master for both motor and sail vessels. For many years Jay served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. He even had his own radio show for a many years. He and his twin have been recognized as Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine – the only twin red-headed graduates with this honor. Jay has also served on A&M’s Development Council. In appreciation for receiving his scholarship, Jay and his wife Joyce gave the first ever Endowed scholarship to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.
After meeting Gene Kaiser almost a half century ago, Jay, Jock and Gene established a fun friendship reinforcing Jays’ mother’s early observation, “What one didn’t think of the other one did.” Gene brought his analytical mind plus his incredible ability to combine concepts into original ideas to the table. Coupled with the twins’ medical, physiology and pharmacology backgrounds, these concepts became realities. The January 2nd “triplets” have bounced around ideas for many years which has resulted in many new products and patents benefitting the world and mankind–fulfilling a desire they often expressed to one another “to leave this world a better place”. Jay Collins passed away in 2022. He was 90 years young.
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