By: Nixon S.R. No. 430
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is proud to honor Major General
1-3 John Franklin Phillips of the United States Air Force for his
1-4 dedicated service to his country throughout his distinguished
1-5 military career; and
1-6 WHEREAS, General Phillips is commander of the Sacramento Air
1-7 Logistics Center at McClellan Air Force Base in California, and in
1-8 the course of his 32-year career in the Armed Forces he has amply
1-9 demonstrated not only his abiding love for his country, but his
1-10 lifelong commitment to excellence in all endeavors; and
1-11 WHEREAS, The son of Obie and Sadie Phillips, he was born in
1-12 Neches and originally went to college to study medicine; a change
1-13 of circumstances led him to pursue a career in the military, and
1-14 upon graduation from officer training school at Lackland Air Force
1-15 Base he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1963; and
1-16 WHEREAS, He went on to earn wings as a navigator, pilot,
1-17 and commercial pilot and was awarded German pilot's wings for
1-18 his service with the 1st German Air Force Squadron at Sheppard
1-19 Air Force Base; and
1-20 WHEREAS, General Phillips served with distinction as an
1-21 instructor navigator from 1967 to 1969 and during that period he
1-22 flew regular combat missions in Vietnam and accumulated more than
1-23 3,000 flying hours; and
2-1 WHEREAS, He later was stationed at Dosham Tapphen Air Base
2-2 in Iran and became one of 20 individuals who were held against
2-3 their will after the nation's shah was deposed in 1979; he was
2-4 held for three weeks before President Jimmy Carter successfully
2-5 negotiated for the group's release in February, 1979; and
2-6 WHEREAS, General Phillips earned a master of science degree
2-7 in logistics management at the Air Force Institute of Technology;
2-8 a recognized leader in his field, he has gone on to serve in
2-9 numerous capacities at military installations throughout the
2-10 nation; and
2-11 WHEREAS, An effective and capable manager, he received a
2-12 series of promotions and went on to serve as vice commander of the
2-13 Logistics Management Systems Center and as commander of the Joint
2-14 Logistics Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base before
2-15 being named to his current post as commander of the Sacramento Air
2-16 Logistics Center in 1993; and
2-17 WHEREAS, In his capacity as the center's chief officer, he
2-18 coordinates efforts to provide worldwide logistics support to a
2-19 number of military aircraft and also oversees the management of
2-20 more than 200 communications systems and eight space systems; the
2-21 center also is responsible for maintaining and repairing entire
2-22 categories of complex military components and flight control
2-23 systems; and
2-24 WHEREAS, He has worked to the benefit of the Lone Star State's
2-25 economy through his successful efforts to site the Air Force's
3-1 Computer-Aided Acquisition Logistics Support program in Palestine
3-2 and in doing so has greatly helped to diversify the region's
3-3 economy; and
3-4 WHEREAS, In recognition of his admirable service throughout his
3-5 career, General Phillips has been honored with numerous decorations
3-6 and awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion
3-7 of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters,
3-8 the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf
3-9 cluster, to name but a few; he also received the President's Award
3-10 for Excellence in Management for his exceptional efforts in
3-11 tracking the status of allied aircraft in Operation Desert Storm;
3-12 and
3-13 WHEREAS, He was promoted to the rank of major general in 1991,
3-14 becoming the youngest general in the entire Unites States Armed
3-15 Forces; and
3-16 WHEREAS, Throughout his many endeavors, General Phillips has
3-17 enjoyed the love and support of his gracious wife, Blanche, and
3-18 the couple's three fine children, Cheryl, Yulanda, and Ursula; and
3-19 WHEREAS, Through his exceptional military career, educational
3-20 achievements, and community service, General Phillips has
3-21 established himself as an exemplary role model not only for young
3-22 people but for all Americans, and his meritorious service and
3-23 abiding patriotism continue to serve as a source of inspiration to
3-24 all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it
3-25 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
4-1 74th Legislature, hereby commend Major General John Franklin Phillips
4-2 for his outstanding service to his country and wish him continued
4-3 success in all his future endeavors; and, be it further
4-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared
4-5 for General Phillips as an expression of highest esteem by the
4-6 Texas Senate.
4-7 ______________________________________
4-8 President of the Senate
4-9 I hereby certify that the above
4-10 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-11 on March 14, 1995.
4-12 ______________________________________
4-13 Secretary of the Senate
4-14 ______________________________________
4-15 Member, Texas Senate