Jimmy Phillips (Texas)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Phillips was a Texas State Senator
from Angleton, Texas
in the 1940s and 50s.
, on May 17, 1913. He was orphaned at an early age and raised by extended family and friends in Angleton
. He helped to support himself from his earnings as a shoe shine boy and by selling newspapers and magazines. He attended the Angleton public schools. After graduating from Angleton High School
, Jimmy graduated from the University of Texas and the University of Texas Law School.
from Brazoria County, and he was re-elected in 1942. Early in 1943, Jimmy resigned as a state representative and volunteered to become a private
in the U.S. Army. After serving in military intelligence
in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged having reached the rank of sergeant
in 1946. Later that same year, Phillips was elected to the Texas Senate representing the 17th Senate District
which included all of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend
, Galveston
, Matagorda and Wharton counties. Senator Phillips served in the Texas Senate from January 1947 until 1963. In 1953, he was elected by the other senators to serve as President Pro Tem of the Texas Senate.
In his obituary, the newspaper wrote, "As a state senator, Jimmy was extremely cautious about spending the money paid into the state treasury by Texas citizens. During his years serving the people of Texas, it was not uncommon to see newspaper headlines like “Phillips makes lone stand against more spending.” Jimmy believed in spending money wisely and carefully, in the right place and at the right time, and had the reputation for being an ardent champion of the poor. During his years in the Senate, the Houston Post once said of him: “He is a warm-hearted, even sentimental individual who has a sincere sympathy for the poor and unfortunate. His eyes sometimes fill with tears when he talks about the need for more charity beds to treat children with cleft palates and twisted legs, and for years he has resisted fiercely any effort by the Legislature to raise college tuition.”
His varied occupational background proved valuable in connection with all types of legislation, but he concentrated his efforts on improving the state hospital
system and controlling the cost of state college tuition and keeping the state colleges growing to keep them open to new students. He conducted what amounted to a single-handed investigation of the veterans land scandal while he was a member of the Senate’s general investigating committee.
. He served as the Brazoria County chairman for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Phillips also started the Brazoria County 100 Club.
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
from Angleton, Texas
Angleton, Texas
Angleton is a city in and the county seat of Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Angleton lies at the intersection of State Highway 288, State Highway 35, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The population was 18,130 at the 2000 census...
in the 1940s and 50s.
Early life
Phillips was born in Brazoria County, TexasBrazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
, on May 17, 1913. He was orphaned at an early age and raised by extended family and friends in Angleton
Angleton, Texas
Angleton is a city in and the county seat of Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Angleton lies at the intersection of State Highway 288, State Highway 35, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The population was 18,130 at the 2000 census...
. He helped to support himself from his earnings as a shoe shine boy and by selling newspapers and magazines. He attended the Angleton public schools. After graduating from Angleton High School
Angleton High School
Angleton High School is part of the Angleton Independent School District located in Angleton, Texas, USA. Several previous school locations were destroyed by hurricanes. The high school was once located in what is now Central Elementary, as well as what is now the former Angleton Intermediate...
, Jimmy graduated from the University of Texas and the University of Texas Law School.
Political service
In 1940, Phillips was elected to the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from Brazoria County, and he was re-elected in 1942. Early in 1943, Jimmy resigned as a state representative and volunteered to become a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the U.S. Army. After serving in military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged having reached the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 1946. Later that same year, Phillips was elected to the Texas Senate representing the 17th Senate District
Texas Senate, District 17
District 17 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves portions of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Senator Kyle Janek announced his resignation on May 29, 2008. Governor Rick Perry called for a special...
which included all of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend
Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S...
, Galveston
Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
, Matagorda and Wharton counties. Senator Phillips served in the Texas Senate from January 1947 until 1963. In 1953, he was elected by the other senators to serve as President Pro Tem of the Texas Senate.
In his obituary, the newspaper wrote, "As a state senator, Jimmy was extremely cautious about spending the money paid into the state treasury by Texas citizens. During his years serving the people of Texas, it was not uncommon to see newspaper headlines like “Phillips makes lone stand against more spending.” Jimmy believed in spending money wisely and carefully, in the right place and at the right time, and had the reputation for being an ardent champion of the poor. During his years in the Senate, the Houston Post once said of him: “He is a warm-hearted, even sentimental individual who has a sincere sympathy for the poor and unfortunate. His eyes sometimes fill with tears when he talks about the need for more charity beds to treat children with cleft palates and twisted legs, and for years he has resisted fiercely any effort by the Legislature to raise college tuition.”
His varied occupational background proved valuable in connection with all types of legislation, but he concentrated his efforts on improving the state hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
system and controlling the cost of state college tuition and keeping the state colleges growing to keep them open to new students. He conducted what amounted to a single-handed investigation of the veterans land scandal while he was a member of the Senate’s general investigating committee.
Private life
After Phillips' discharge from the Army, he became active in the American LegionAmerican Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
. He served as the Brazoria County chairman for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Phillips also started the Brazoria County 100 Club.