By Staples H.R. No. 356
74R7793 SAJ-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
1-2 commend Major General John Franklin Phillips of the United States
1-3 Air Force for his admirable commitment to his country and
1-4 congratulate him on the celebration of Major General John Franklin
1-5 Phillips Day in Palestine and Anderson County, which is to be held
1-6 in his honor on March 17, 1995; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The son of Obie and Sadie Phillips, he was born in
1-8 Neches and hails from a long line of scholars, as his parents and
1-9 each of his 21 aunts and uncles have attended college; and
1-10 WHEREAS, An outstanding student in his own right, General
1-11 Phillips originally studied to become a physician and graduated
1-12 with honors from Jarvis Christian College; a change of
1-13 circumstances led him to pursue a career in the military, and he
1-14 was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from
1-15 officer training school in 1963; and
1-16 WHEREAS, An experienced pilot, navigator, and instructor
1-17 pilot, General Phillips has accumulated more than 3,000 flying
1-18 hours, including more than 300 combat hours over Vietnam; and
1-19 WHEREAS, General Phillips also has distinguished himself
1-20 through his work in the area of logistics management and has served
1-21 in numerous capacities at military installations throughout the
1-22 country; one of the top-ranking officers at Wright-Patterson Air
1-23 Force Base in Ohio, he held leadership positions at the Logistics
1-24 Management Systems Center and the Joint Logistics Systems Center
2-1 there before being named commander of the Sacramento Air Logistics
2-2 Center at McClellan Air Force Base in 1993; and
2-3 WHEREAS, This exceptional gentleman has benefitted the Texas
2-4 economy through his efforts to develop the Air Force's
2-5 Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Center in Palestine;
2-6 moreover, he has initiated a dual-use program to make the center's
2-7 military technology and personnel, as well as a portion of its
2-8 unused capacity, available for civilian use, and his successful
2-9 efforts may serve as a prototype to save a number of military bases
2-10 from closure; and
2-11 WHEREAS, General Phillips also has contributed to the field
2-12 of military leadership as the coauthor of Military Project
2-13 Management and has written numerous articles on the subject as
2-14 well; in addition, he has conducted highly informative lectures on
2-15 leadership and management issues across the country; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Ever mindful of the important contributions made by
2-17 African-American military personnel who served before him, he
2-18 proudly works to preserve the history of his predecessors' struggle
2-19 for equality as the second vice president of the famed Tuskegee
2-20 Airmen; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, he has enjoyed
2-22 the love and support of his gracious wife, Blanche, who has worked
2-23 to provide her husband and three daughters with a source of
2-24 stability and strength in the course of their many endeavors; and
2-25 WHEREAS, An active and energetic couple, General and
2-26 Mrs. Phillips have dedicated themselves to a variety of worthy
2-27 local causes; General Phillips founded a program to help at-risk
3-1 youth in Dayton, Ohio, and currently is involved with the Urban
3-2 League, the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Ballet,
3-3 and the Combined Federal Campaign charity drive, while
3-4 Mrs. Phillips serves with distinction on the Sacramento Symphony
3-5 Board and leads the McClellan Officers Wives' Club; and
3-6 WHEREAS, They each make time in their busy day to enjoy their
3-7 favorite leisure-time pursuits; General Phillips is an accomplished
3-8 athlete, poet, and cook who has entertained the family's many
3-9 friends at his legendary barbecues, and Mrs. Phillips is an avid
3-10 walker and art enthusiast who also enjoys adding to her unique
3-11 collection of ceramic angels; and
3-12 WHEREAS, The couple are the proud parents of three cherished
3-13 daughters, Cheryl, Yulanda, and Ursula, and in recent years their
3-14 family has grown to include two adorable grandchildren; and
3-15 WHEREAS, In recognition of the many significant contributions
3-16 he has made throughout his lifetime, General Phillips was inducted
3-17 into the Texas Historical Hall of Fame and has received the
3-18 President's Commendation 1,000 Points of Light Award for his
3-19 commendable work with a program to provide scholarships to Ohio
3-20 high school students; and
3-21 WHEREAS, By virtue of his valiant service to both his country
3-22 and community, General Phillips has been a positive role model to
3-23 the many people who have come to know him, and the commemoration of
3-24 Major General John Franklin Phillips Day in Palestine and Anderson
3-25 County is a most fitting occasion to honor him for his remarkable
3-26 public service; now, therefore, be it
3-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
4-1 Legislature hereby commend Major General John Franklin Phillips for
4-2 the many substantial contributions he has made to both his country
4-3 and community and join with the citizens of Palestine and Anderson
4-4 County in celebration of Major General John Franklin Phillips Day
4-5 on March 17, 1995; and, be it further
4-6 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-7 prepared for General Phillips as an expression of highest regard by
4-8 the Texas House of Representatives.