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2023 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 454
Celebrating the life of Master Sergeant James Richard Phillips, USAF, Ret.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 24, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant James Richard Phillips, USAF, Ret., an honorable veteran and an active and beloved member of the Winchester community, died on November 11, 2022; and

WHEREAS, James “Jim” Richard Phillips graduated from Clarke County High School before earning an associate’s degree from Lord Fairfax Community College and bachelor’s degrees at both Shenandoah University and Mount Saint Mary’s College; and

WHEREAS, Jim Phillips served with honor and distinction in the United States Air Force on active duty from 1955–1959 and active reserve duty for 17 years in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1959–1976, serving 12 years of on-fly status with over 2,000 flight hours as an instructor and loadmaster on Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, and C-130 Hercules aircraft; he retired at the rank of master sergeant; and

WHEREAS, over his military career, Jim Phillips earned his Senior Aircrew Badge, Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Ribbon unit award; and

WHEREAS, while a reservist, Jim Phillips enjoyed a long career, first at the manufacturer Ashworth Brothers, Inc., in Winchester, beginning in 1960, and then at General Motors in Martinsburg, West Virginia, from 1968 until his retirement in 1992; and

WHEREAS, along with serving in various leadership capacities with the Winchester Royals baseball club since the Valley Baseball League’s founding, Jim Phillips devoted himself to the Winchester community through his involvement with the Kiwanis Club, the Winchester City Parks and Recreation Board, the local Salvation Army Advisory Board, the American Legion Post 141, the Air Force Sergeants Association, and several other veterans’ organizations; and

WHEREAS, Jim Phillips’ contributions to the community were recognized with many accolades and awards over the years, including induction into the Handley High School Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 2011 and the charter class of the Valley Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2016; and

WHEREAS, guided by his faith, Jim Phillips was a faithful member of St. Michael the Archangel Anglican Church in Frederick County, where he served as treasurer for many years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Phillips will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his wife of 62 years, Betty Lou; his son, Richard, and his family; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Master Sergeant James Richard Phillips, USAF, Ret., a cherished member of the Winchester community whose legacy of service was an inspiration to all who knew him; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Master Sergeant James Richard Phillips, USAF, Ret., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.