Jerry Phillips Obituary

Jerome "Jerry" Phillips, 70, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Saturday, April 30 surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 8, 1945 in Nederland, TX to Marguerite "Bee" and Kermit "Gee" Phillips.

After graduating high school, he was recruited by a number of schools, including West Point, but ultimately chose to play football on scholarship at SMU in Dallas so he could be close to his mother and family. He enjoyed playing in the Cotton Bowl in 1966 and then wearing his Cotton Bowl ring and watch for many, many years. At SMU, he met the love of his life, Jean Kendrick, and together they had four children. He was also "father" to dozens of foster children, and a father figure to many of the kids he coached, and later taught.

After a career in Dallas, working in accounting at U.S. Industries, he started a new career in 1980 in Ulysses, KS, managing Ulysses Irrigation Pipe Company. In Ulysses he enjoyed being a member of the local Rotary Club, on the board of the Grant County Recreation Commission, and a member of the United Methodist Church.

Jerry and his wife went back to school at the University of Kansas where he earned his PhD in Education at the age of 50. As a Professor of Sports Management, he worked at US Sports Academy in Alabama and the University of Kansas, where he taught classes and also worked as the Facilities Director at Robinson Gymnasium.

He retired as a professor from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007, where he was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security.

Upon his retirement, he and Jean moved back to their family in the Kansas City area when he was diagnosed with the beginning stages of dementia. Jerry is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean, and his four children, Dana, Rusty, Suzy, Kurt, and their wives, husbands and partners. His grandchildren include Jesse, Valarie, Jack, Joe, Caroline, Pearl and Natalie. He is also survived by his sister Tish, her husband, and their children Cyndi and Traci, and their husbands and children.

Because of the extraordinary care he received in the final years of his life, his family would appreciate for anyone who would like to make memorial contributions in his honor to make them to the "Jerry Phillips Memorial Fund" for the Memory Care Unit at Villa St. Francis. Villa St. Francis, "Jerry Phillips Memorial Fund", 16600 W. 126th Street, Olathe, KS 66062.