He was born to John M. McCollister and Ruth Yetter McCollister in Iowa City, Iowa. In 1939 he graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and in 1943 he graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He married Nanette Stokes in August 22, 1943. He was a lieutenant in United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1946. From 1960 to 1971 and again from 1979 to 1986 he was president of McCollister & Co.

For two terms from 1965 to 1970, he was the Douglas County Commissioner. He was a delegate to the Nebraska State Republican conventions from 1960 to 1970, and delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention. He was elected as a Republican to the Ninety-second United States Congress, Ninety-third United States Congress, and Ninety-fourth United States Congress serving from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1977. In 1976 he decided to run instead for senate but was unsuccessful. He was a presidential elector for Nebraska in 2000. He is currently a resident of Omaha, Nebraska.

He is a member of the Presbyterian church, the Kiwanis and Phi Kappa Psi.

References

1. The Political Graveyard. McCollister, John Yetter. Retrieved on February 11., 2006.
2. Congressional Bioguide. McCollister, John Yetter. Retrieved on February 11., 2006.