Later, he served for several years as cashier of the First National Bank of Channing while extending his family's ranch holdings.

Mr. Collins was well-known and respected in ranching and financial circles, and was a ranking member of the Republican Party for several years.

The first lots were sold at $10 each under the name "Altman", but it was discovered that a town in Rusk County had already appropriated that name, hence, the name "Sunray" was used.

The change to the name "Sunray" came because Sunray Oil Company (later Sunoco) set up a gas-oil refinery near the town on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land originally donated by Mr. Collins to Dana Oil & Gas Royalty Company.

Sunray Oil Company bought the holdings of Dana in the early Jones Field in northeastern Moore County, which was near the new town.

The McKee refinery fire killed 19 firefighters when a storage tank suffered a vapor explosion.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), all land.