Edmond Felix Phillips
Edmond F. Phillips was born in 1920 in Sunnyville, Florida. He was the third child of twelve born to Moses and Mary Lou Phillips. As he grew, his parents instilled in him a strong belief in the power of education and the benefits of a good work ethic.
During childhood Edmond was an exemplary pupil. He excelled in virtually every subject, which earned him numerous awards and honors, but he found a particular love for mathematics. He graduated from high school in 1938 and matriculated at University of Florida where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1941.
After college, he served in the military during World War II before returning to Florida in 1945, determined to make a difference in the world. He took a position as a teacher in his hometown, where he introduced new techniques to teaching mathematics that resulted in increased student achievement and better classroom instruction.
His work with students in the classroom earned him a reputation as an innovator, and in 1952 he was appointed to the Florida State Board of Education. His tenure on the Board lasted thirty years and during this time, he led a number of initiatives to improve the state’s public educational system, among them the establishment of the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program. This program encourages students from low-income backgrounds to pursue college and university education and has since served as a model for similar initiatives across the United States.
He also served as a trustee at Florida Southern College for many years. Edmond’s commitment to education and his dedication to helping others led to him being inducted into the Florida Education Hall of Fame in 1993.
Aside from his achievements in education, Edmond was an accomplished artist. His works have been exhibited in a number of galleries and he was renowned for his ability to capture the beauty of the Florida landscape in his artwork.
Edmond F. Phillips was a dedicated public servant who devoted his life to helping others. His legacy lives on in the many students and other individuals who had their lives improved through his hard work and dedication. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 91, but his memory will live on forever.
