Induction Graduation Sport

2021 1958 Baseball | Football | Basketball

Phil is a 1958 graduate of Hoover High School.  As a Hoover athlete, he earned nine varsity letters (4 in baseball, 3 in Football, and 2 in Basketball) during his high school career.  Head Baseball coach, Don Hertler, Sr., moved Phil into the starting lineup as a catcher during his freshman year, and he remained the catcher throughout his high school career.  During the 1957-1959 year, North Canton acquired the Hoover High School name, and Mr. Birney had the honor of being the first student body President of Hoover High School.  Also, during his senior year of Football, the team went 8-1 to help jump start the proud tradition our Football program maintains to this day. 

After his days at Hoover, Phil went on the Northwestern University, where he attended the Kellogg School of Business.  He received his law degree from the University of California- San Francisco in 1965.  When he joined the Attorney General’s office in 1966, he took part in Fast Pitch Softball and played for approximately the next 10 years.  At age 56, Phil was “recruited” by his former softball teammates to join the Sacramento Solons, a men’s age 50 and older baseball team. 

Mr. Birney has accomplished many highlights and awards in his professional career.  Most recently, in 2020, Mr. Birney was recognized by The American Registry as “America’s Most Honored Lawyers.”  This award signifies his selection as being in the Top 1% of Attorneys in the United States.