Harry Phillips
Harry J. Phillips, Jr. was born on February 20, 1944, and died peacefully in his home October 25, 2021. He was 77. He passed as he lived surrounded by his loving family and in the company of loyal friends.
Harry was a graduate of Chattanooga Central High School. Under the leadership of Coach E.B. “Red” Etter, Harry (alongside his brother Dickie and running back and life-long friend Terry Parks) guided the Purple Pounders to the AP and UPI state championship in 1962—Central’s only perfect season.
Harry attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship. He later obtained his Masters in History on an academic scholarship from the University of Tennessee. He served as assistant principal at Hixson Junior High under Everett Fairchild before becoming principal at Tyner Junior High. Finally, he became principal at Tyner High School in 1976 where he served until 1984. In that role, he worked alongside Tyner’s head football coach and his dear friend, Ernie McCarson. During his time at Tyner and for the rest of his life, Harry was an inspiration to countless Tyner colleagues and alumni, many of whom came to visit him and express their gratitude in his final days.
Harry will be remembered as a Christian, a devoted son, a father, a grandfather, a friend, a teacher, a coach, an athlete, an entrepreneur and a self-proclaimed professional gambler. He was exceedingly proud of his children, grandchildren, and former students. He loved Georgia football, he wore the “double ones” #11, coaching little league, making funny faces with his grandkids, and breakfast at Wally’s with his closest friends. For years, he could be caught humming Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” or “I’ve Lost that Loving Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers. He had a great smile. His mottos were “PLF” (peace, love, friends) and “Don’t Quit.” It was an honor to know him, and he will be deeply missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Phillips and his mother, Doris Giles Phillips.
His legacy includes three children with Judy Burnette Phillips, Stan Phillips (Karen), Harry aka “Tank” Phillips (Amy), and Leigh Anne Womac (Ty); 10 grandchildren, Stevie (Thomas), Chad (Effie), Jeramie (Denny), Madison, Harry (Susan), Savannah, Reese, Micah, Miley, and Candace (Kyle); and nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Braylon, Phoebe, Leona, Presleigh, Tripp, Henry, Arthur, and Harper.
He also leaves behind his devoted brother and sister, Dick Phillips (Marcia) and Robbie Phillips (Randy) who were by his side in his final days; many beloved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews; and many life-long friends who were like family, notably Walter Scott in addition to those mentioned.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. in the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service beginning at 3 p.m. Harry will be laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 29, at 12 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Harry began supporting the hospital in the 1970s after one of his students succumbed to leukemia.
In his words as memorialized today on Tyner High School front lawn are words he lived by: “There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met – Class of 1978.”