Phillips farewell flight

Eastfield College psychology professor and counselor, Dr. Jim Phillips, 65, passed away June 17 when his Cessna 150 crashed at his private airstrip on his ranch in Terrell, Texas. Phillips taught psychology at Eastfield for 37 years.

Many considered Phillips to be a friend and he is remembered for his strong faith and generosity by both family and friends.

"Jim was such a man of integrity and had a love of people," said dual credit coordinator Sharron Wagoner. "He always had a kind word and a hug as well as a smile for everyone."

Phillips' dean, Richard Cinclair, said one of the best traits his friend possessed was a positive attitude. "He cared so much about everything he was doing, its always fun to work with somebody that has a very positive attitude and he certainly had a positive attitude," Cinclair said.

Phillips had a unique style of teaching called the Navajo way, which involves a system of beliefs that are enormously rich and expressive as well as complex, with many tales.

"He always had a smile on his face. I love that," Phillips student and science major Penny Riley said. "The way he taught was extraordinary. It may not be your traditional way of teaching, but it was innovative. He had is own style, that was a wonderful thing about him; I learned more about the psychology of life and people than I have in the last 46 years of my life." Phillips owned Phillips Flying Ranch in Rockwall, Texas, where he was a flight instructor and did missionary trips. Phillips had at least 14,000 flight hours under his belt.

Friend and flight student Kimberly Jones fondly remembers her first solo with Phillips.

"He said he never soloed a girl in 12 hours," Jones said. He was bound and determined to teach me that I couldn't fly in heels. He showed me that by letting me fly with heels I eventually ended up in tennis shoes."

Phillips used his flying ranch to transport doctors to Mexico and Central America to perform surgeries, bring people back from Mexico for surgery, and to deliver medical supplies.

Phillips was an active member and founder of the Rafter J. Cowboy Church in Terrell.

"He touched people from the time he was in high school to all the places he would work," his wife Sue Phillips told Fox News. "He always wanted to bring everything back out to the ranch, everything he did."

Phillips will be missed, but the memories he left to family, friends, faculty, staff and his students will not fade.

Cinclair described his philosophy.

"To take life as it was handed to him and to be happy with who he was and to see if he could make this world a better place," he said. "He had a positive attitude. I think it was always very contagious. We just need more people like Jim, not only at Eastfield, but all over the world. So we'll miss that."

President Jean Conway said she will miss Phillips' way with people.

"We all knew and experienced Jim in different, but profound ways," Conway stated in an email. "The students who participated in his Rodeo Club will miss his leadership and guidance; his colleagues will miss his friendly smile and supportive words of encouragement; his students will miss his insights into the complex world of human psychology; we all will miss the man who brought a smile and good humor to any meeting or event in which he participated."

Phillips graduated from Canton High School and married Sue Hunter, his wife of 30 years. Along with a doctorate in psychology, Phillips had an associate degree in aviation and numerous licenses and ratings. He was a licensed private, instrument and commercial pilot, equipped to fly multi-engine and seaplanes. He was a certified flight instructor, an FAA gold seal instructor and had eight years experience as an FAA aviation safety counselor.

Since 1972 Phillips held the position as psychology professor, counselor and in 1999 developed the Rodeo Club

In addition to his wife, Sue, Phillips is survived by son, Jason Phillips and his daughter-in- law Tracy of Carthage; grandson Brennan Phillips; brother, Jerry Mac Phillips and his wife Mary of Terrell; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

kimberly_ansley@yahoo.com