PHILIP WINN MILLER

Your name will be remembered, forever.

Sigh.

Finally comes the poet...

I knew Phil in the early days at Emporia, and just read of his death in the Spotlight. He was the Best Man at my wedding. We celebrated the births of all those children we had, and, not adequately, touched base over the years. His deep, rich voice and romantic nature were perfection for his great craft. He was of another time. Oh, for one more day. Love you always, Phil. My thoughts are with Nancy and the children.

My condolences to Phil's family and friends. The other messages here are wonderfully warm. I found out about his passing in the Emporia State Spotlight. I knew Phil in graduate school (I was Eugene Warren then.) We disagreed about important issues of art and poetry. My strongest memory of him is perhaps the party at which we had a lengthy discussion of form and content. Judging from the messages and the obituary here, Phil had a full life that affected many people. I am glad to have known him.

A Memorial Tribute for Phil will take place on:

Sunday, April 10, 2011
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM:
Tribute at Kansas City Central Library (East Mezzanine)
14 West 10th Street, KCMO *

3:30 PM - 6:30 PM:
Reception followed by Open Mic at the Writers Place
3607 Pennsylvania, KCMO
(Reception 3:30-4:30, open mic 4:30-6:30)

To the man who made me Captain Zach.... I will never forget you.

I took creative writing classes taught by Phil back in the day. I loved his enthusiasm and his constant encouragement. He loved a poem (I think a quattrain) I wrote in class about Emily Dickinson. Still one of my most cherished moments. If Phil has to leave you, and us, I think it is somehow appropriate that he passed on Valentine's Day. I always considered him one of the last of the Great Romantics. My deepest sympathies.

I'm so glad that Phil found his shoes there, by his bed. No need to leave them here. No one to fill them.