Mayor Wilmot Collins, was born, raised and partially educated in Liberia, West Africa. His early childhood was in Firestone, Liberia where he attended elementary school. He later attended Carroll High School at Grassfield, Nimba County, upon graduation he attended the Ricks Institute Junior College, where he obtained an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies, he later matriculated to the University of Liberia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociology; while attending the University of Liberia, Wilmot’s thirst for knowledge led him to also attend the Liberian Foreign Service Institute, there he obtained a certificate.  Upon Graduation from the University of Liberia, Wilmot began teaching at the SOS Children’s Village in Matadi, Monrovia.

When Liberia got engulfed in its civil war, Wilmot and his wife fled to Ghana and eventually ended up in Montana.  Wilmot’s career started off by being a janitor at an elementary school and later joined the U. S. Army and Naval Reserves and recently retired after 22 years of service.  While in the service Wilmot obtained his Master of Science in Human Resources Degree and is presently working on his PhD in Forensic Psychology.

Wilmot has held many positions:

  • Administrative Officer: VA Montana – Facility Management
  • Adjunct Professor: University of Montana – Helena College
  • Child Protection Specialist – Montana Department of Health and Human Services
  • Immigration Service Officer – Department of Homeland Security

And most recently in 2017 Wilmot became the first black mayor in Montana’s history, since 1889. In November of 2021 Wilmot won his second term as Helena, Montana’s mayor.

Wilmot has served on many boards:

  • LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugees Service)
  • UNHCR – Refugees Congress
  • United Way for Lewis and Clark County
  • Montana Human Rights Network
  • Montana Immigrant and Justice Alliance

Wilmot is married to Maddie Collins who is a Nurse Practitioner, and the marriage was blessed with two children. Jaymie their daughter is serving in the U.S. Navy overseas and their son Bliss is living and working as a project manager for King County (Seattle, WA)

With whatever time Wilmot finds he loves to fish and hike with his wife Maddie.