OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 1997 | Graduation Year: 1953

Graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1954. First Tecumseh Athlete to earn four (4) letters in one year, Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.

While at Tecumseh, Phil played first base, ran the 440 yd dash and was on the mile relay team. In football, he earned All County First Team as a fullback and was the Captain of the high school's first football team.

Known more for basketball skills, Phil was Co-Captain on Tecumseh's first basketball team to participate in Class A competition. The 1953 team advanced further than any other Tecumseh team by playing in the regional championship game. Recognized as the 1953 league scoring champion and runner up in league season scoring champion to team mate Wayne Embry. Phil received recognition as a guard to First Team All County, then All Ohio Honorable Mention before being named as a member of the All Ohio Team vs Kentucky All Stars. 

While playing for Denison University from 1954 to 1957, Phil's class won more games during his four year period than any other class in Denison history. Upon graduation in 1957, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant to the United States Air Force.

After graduating from pilot training in 1959, Phil would spend the next 22 years as a fighter pilot in the USAF. During this time, he flew the F-4 Phantom in Vietnam. While recording 100 missions over North Vietnam, he would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross and Ten (10) Air Medals, before retiring in 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

For the past 18 years, Phil has been an Airplane Captain for Continental Airlines accumulating a total of 22,000 hours of flight time.