Phil Collins honorary Texan
Phil Collins honorary Texan, Phil Collins's heart now officially resides deep in the heart of Texas.
The Texas state legislature named the British-born musician, 64, an honorary Texan Wednesday as a thank-you for donating his expansive collection of Alamo and Texas Revolution-related artifacts to the Alamo last year.
"I think no one could ever imagine that someone from England could do this, much less from Texas," State Rep. Lyle Larson told the San Antonio Express-News Wednesday. "The generosity that he's demonstrated will have a profound impact on telling the story."
Larson said he spoke to Collins Wednesday before the musician was honored at the Texas Capitol building, and the former Genesis member told him his passion for the state's history began when he watched Davy Crockett on television as a boy in England.
Collins, who now resides in Switzerland, held the largest known private collection of artifacts from the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo, according to an Alamo press release. In 2012, Collins also released The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector's Journey, a book documenting his collection.
Donated items include a rifle and leather shot pouch once owned by Crockett, as well as the knife owned by Jim Bowie, who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution.
"I am enormously pleased and proud to have my collection going home to the Alamo," Collins said in the Alamo statement following his donation last June. "It has been, and will continue to be my passion, and I shall continue to gather relics and documents, and forward them so they can be enjoyed."
Collins apparently continued feeling generous on Wednesday, per the Express-News, offering up a donation to one Texas legislator that was more apropos with his rise to fame.
"Phil Collins gave me his sticks!" Rep. Joe Pickett said with a grin as he held the drumsticks in the air.
The Texas state legislature named the British-born musician, 64, an honorary Texan Wednesday as a thank-you for donating his expansive collection of Alamo and Texas Revolution-related artifacts to the Alamo last year.
"I think no one could ever imagine that someone from England could do this, much less from Texas," State Rep. Lyle Larson told the San Antonio Express-News Wednesday. "The generosity that he's demonstrated will have a profound impact on telling the story."
Larson said he spoke to Collins Wednesday before the musician was honored at the Texas Capitol building, and the former Genesis member told him his passion for the state's history began when he watched Davy Crockett on television as a boy in England.
Collins, who now resides in Switzerland, held the largest known private collection of artifacts from the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo, according to an Alamo press release. In 2012, Collins also released The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector's Journey, a book documenting his collection.
Donated items include a rifle and leather shot pouch once owned by Crockett, as well as the knife owned by Jim Bowie, who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution.
"I am enormously pleased and proud to have my collection going home to the Alamo," Collins said in the Alamo statement following his donation last June. "It has been, and will continue to be my passion, and I shall continue to gather relics and documents, and forward them so they can be enjoyed."
Collins apparently continued feeling generous on Wednesday, per the Express-News, offering up a donation to one Texas legislator that was more apropos with his rise to fame.
"Phil Collins gave me his sticks!" Rep. Joe Pickett said with a grin as he held the drumsticks in the air.