THOMAS GRANT PHILLIPS

Thomas Grant Phillips, a longtime local educator and coach, has passed at age 86. His purpose in life was to teach and motivate young people and he accomplished this for his own children and those of others. In a remarkable feat, he was able to coach Bullard High School swimmers before the school even had a pool. Tom was born in 1929 to Mabel and Tulsa Phillips in Tulsa, OK. He came to Tulare, CA in 1936, and graduated from Tulare High School in 1947. He attended Fresno State University and graduated with a degree in Industrial Arts in 1953. In 1952, he married Marilynn Eubank, whom he met at age 13. They lived down the street from each other and Tom had a secret whistle to let Marilynn know he was passing by her house. His first teaching post was at Fowler High School. In his 35-year career with Fresno Unified School District, he was a teacher and later an administrator at Bullard, Roosevelt and Hoover High Schools. Every year without fail, past swimmers still called "Coach" on his birthday. It was his joy. His family is certain that there are now swim lessons in heaven, and that he's fishing with Dick Hoe. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jay Phillips. Tom is survived by Marilynn, his wife of 64 years; his children and their spouses, Lori Phillips and Lee Porter, Lyndi and Kevin Marchese, Grant and Mary Phillips and Julie and Kevin Randles; grandchildren, Kelly Noecker, Gregory and Grayson Marchese, Delaney and Sawyer Randles; and brothers, Jerry and Jack Phillips. Many thanks to his loving caregivers, Yolanda, Lyuda, Angela and Aggie. Please visit our family's memorial website at thomasgrantphillips.com and leave a comment.