John P. St. John Memorial High School
Class of 1938

(March 26, 1919 — April 22, 2008)

Football was always an important part of Phillip’s life. He was captain of the 1937 Eagles high school team and, while earning his associate degree, lettered on Fort Scott Junior College’s 10-0, co-national championship team. As an adult, he co-founded Olathe’s Pop Warner football program. Phillip’s civic involvement included president of the Johnson County Red Cross, Olathe Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club, which named him a Paul Harris Fellow. Phillip worked with the PTA, Olathe Planning Commission, Olathe Park Board, United Way, Sertoma Club, the Kansas Association of Commerce and Industry-Public Affairs Council, and a county child care study group. A veteran of World War II, Phillip was an active member of The Navy League. Professionally, Phillip had a long career with Southwestern Bell Telephone, from pay phone coin collector to management. His responsibilities included community relations for 15 cities in Johnson County, and he received the company’s Community Relations Award for six consecutive years. Phillip was an advocate for people with hearing impairments, hiring many deaf employees for Southwestern Bell and becoming proficient in sign language so he could be a guest speaker at the Kansas School for the Deaf.