Kenneth M. Collinson grew up in the Quad City metropolitan area of Illinois, graduating from Moline High School in 1957. He continued his education at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in economics. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois graduating in 1964 with his Juris Doctor Degree. After graduating from law school he received his license to practice law from the Illinois Supreme Court on November 19, 1964. He commenced his law practice with the law firm of Potter, Gilman, Galvin, Collinson & Konecky in Rock Island, Illinois and later was associated with the firm of Collinson, Taber & Darrow in Milan, Illinois. On January 1, 2005 he, together with Robert G. Scott and Lincoln T. Scott, formed Collinson & Scott, P.C.

Kenneth M. Collinson is a general law practitioner with particular focus on matters involving real estate, wills and trusts, and probate of estates. He served as President of the Rock Island County Bar Association from 1990 to 1991 and is currently a member of the Milan Area Rotary Club and serves as a director of Blackhawk Bank & Trust.