Dr. Philip Thomas West

Jun 17th, 1939 - Jan 2nd, 2014
6 Guests

Visitation:

Sat, Jan. 4th, 2014 11:00 AM ~ 1:00 PM

Service:

Sat, Jan. 4th, 2014 1:00 PM

Burial:

Thu, Jan. 1st, 1970

Carterville- Dr. Philip T. West, 82, of Carterville, formerly of Michigan, Massachusetts, Long Island (New York) and Texas, died at 9:02AM, Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Herrin Hospital.

Philip was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 17, 1931 to Phillip & Eleanor (Osborne) West. He married Joan E. West on October 2, 1951 at St. James Catholic Church in Salem, MA, who died November 14, 2003 in Carterville, IL. He remarried on September 14, 2004 to Alma Mercader West, his wife of nearly 10 years, at Chulu Catholic Church in Hualien, Taiwan. He had stated prior to death, “I had the good fortune to have married two of the greatest women in my lifetime.” He is survived by his wife Alma and their daughter Rose from his second marriage and his mother-in-law Gaudeneia Mercader. From his previous marriage, survivors include his son Dr. Thomas P. West (Brookings, SD), his daughter Dr. Phylis West Johnson (Carterville, IL), and his three grandchildren (youngest to oldest) - Julianna West Johnson (Carterville), Jennifer Rosemary Johnson (Carterville), and of Tucson, AZ, Nicholas Christian Johnson (and his wife Jennifer).

Dr. West retired September 2004 as Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration at Texas A&M University. Dr. West was responsible for providing leadership in a specialization designed to prepare students for public relations positions in education, business and industry, government, and the military.

He attended Boston University, graduating with a Bachelors degree in Education (English and Social Studies). He earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education (English), and continued on to earn a Doctorate in Philosophy in Educational Administration (cognates in English and Philosophy) in 1971. He had additional coursework in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University (1973), Administration and Creative Writing from Columbia University (1968), and Supervision of Instruction from New York University (1969). He was granted lifetime administration certification in New York, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, and California (specialties in Secondary School Principalship, and Secondary English and Social Studies).

Dr. West had recently authored two books, one with his wife Alma, to be published in the near future. He is the author of four published academic books, with his most distinguished being Educational Public Relations (Sage), along with nearly 200 refereed, peer reviewed articles, book chapters and publications. During his lifetime, he was editor/co-editor of numerous journals including the Community Education Research Journal, Community Education Journal, School PR Case Study Workbook, Journal of Educational Public Relations (Research) (formerly Journal of Educational Communication), The AASA Professor, and most prominently Editor-in-Chief of Educational Administration Abstracts. Locally, he was editor of the 2004 Anthology (Prose and Poetry) for the Southern Illinois Writers Guild (SIWG). He was an international consultant in his specialty, travelling regularly across North America and Asia.

Dr. West’s experience included numerous distinguished appointments, including Director of the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA) Program Center for Educational Public Relations (1984-1997). He was Professor of Educational Administration at Texas A&M University, 1981 to 1997. He is best known in his role as coordinator for the Public Relations specialization there, and his supervisory role in the PR Internship Program, having placed many graduate students in esteemed positions nationally and internationally. He was Distinguished Guest Lecturer of Educational PR at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, as well as Invited Alumnus of Educational PR at the University of Iowa at the Institute for School Executives. Other administrative experiences, but by far only a sampling, included Acting Chairperson at Purdue University (Fort Wayne campus, Indiana), Department Head-Secondary at Sachem Independent School District (Long Island New York) where he served as the faculty advisor to the school/community radio station, school newspaper and the coordinator of the Humanities Program.

Selected associations to which he belonged during his lifetime and served in various capacities include: Southern Illinois Writers Guild (SIWG), Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, American Association of School Administrators, Texas School Public Relations Association, National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and National Community Education Association.

Awards received: American Association of School Administrators (AASA) for Serving with
Distinction and Dedication as Editor of The AASA Professor from 1979 to 1995 in “Broadening the Professional Perspectives of Professors of Educational Administration and University Adjunct Faculty”; Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for 8 years of service as Editor-in-Chief of Educational Administration Abstracts by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA); Outstanding Professional Service - NSPRA for Work as Chairperson of the College PR Course Committee; Graduation with Outstanding Scholarship/Master of Science Degree; Letter of Congratulation from Dean of Graduate College/University of Iowa for 4.0 Ph.D. Academic Record; among other distinguished honors. He chaired the dissertation committees of more than 60 students, half of whom were in the field of public relations.

Dr. Philip West was a self-made man. He was a proud veteran of the military serving in the U.S. Navy in communications during the Korean war. Loved immensely by his family and friends, Phil was a boisterous man of heroic character and extraordinary genius; he will be missed by all. There will not be another of his caliber. Hats off to an honorable, forthright man.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin with Monsignor Ken Schaefer officiating. Following funeral services, military honors will be performed by Herrin’s American Legion and VFW Posts with assistance from the US National Guard. Visitation will be held from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Herrin City Cemetery at a later date.

For those who prefer, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home; 201 S 13th Street; Herrin, IL 62948. For more information, or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com

6 Guestbook Messages

  • Guest: Dr. Jerry Rodriguez

    From: Biloxi, Mississippi

    Date: January 3, 2014

    I am greatly saddened by the passing of my ole buddy Phil. We first taught together in 1973 at Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne. We have remained friends and would see each other at national conferences but exchanged Christmas cards for 41 years. I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Tom and Phylis. I did not know Phil’s second family but express sorry to Alma and her family as well. Phil was a unique character and will be missed by all who knew him. He was very proud of his entire family. He set such a high standard for them but they met it and even surpassed it at times. I have many fond memories of our friendship. Requiescat in pace, ole buddy.-jwr

  • Guest: AL HOLLIDAY

    From: camp hill, Pennsylvania

    Date: January 3, 2014

    Phil was a valued contributor to the Journal of
    Educational Communication and Public Relations, as writer of case studies and editor of research in this
    area for many years.

  • Guest: Donald Pettit

    From: Tampa, Florida

    Date: January 4, 2014

    My deepest sympathy and prayers to the West family.

  • Guest: Terry Oberg Ph.D. ’83

    From: McAllen, Texas

    Date: January 6, 2014

    Maybe fate: On the day Dr. West died I was in College Station and went by the building where he and I (and countless others) shared much. He was a mentor to me and the 30 years (Dec. ’83) since I received my degree were much enriched by his wisdom and friendship. I last saw Dr. West a couple of years ago at the home he shared with Alma and Rose, and I know both of them made his last years much happier, as did the success of his two children. My condolences to all of them and I will keep his soul and his family in my prayers.

  • Guest: Dr.Teddy B Pope

    From: Beaumont, Texas

    Date: January 17, 2014

    Dr. West was my first professor at TX AMU doctoral program in Ed. Ad. It was my 40 th Birthday, Oct 1979 and I had come to Aggieland with my husband because of his desire to pursue a terminal degree. That night when I got home from class, I told my family that I understood what my professor was talking about. I had not been enrolled in a institution of higher learning where in a degree program in nearly 19 years. Dr West was my teacher for about 5 or 6 courses during the 6 years of my degree program courses and two more for my dissertation. He was also my chairman. Before I finished my degree, it was necessary for me to relocate to Houston for employment reasons. Dr West and also his wife met with me several Sunday afternoons at the MSC to confer with me about how to make corrections and complete my paper. I do not recall Dr. West ever being absent from class and leaving us with a grad assistant, or coming to class unprepared, or letting class out early. Not even on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Day. He took his work and his students seriously. He nurtured, urged and encourage me until I finished. I was one of the few married women with small children who also worked full time in school administration at the Bryan ISD at that time in our department of School Administration. He did his job. I have thought of him many times and just now googled his name again and found out of his death. I was better off because Philip T West came to Texas. My condolences are extended to his family along with my best wishes. Teddy B Pope, Ed. D. ’87

  • Guest: Keith L. Cannon

    From: Charlotte, North Carolina

    Date: January 28, 2014

    Just a few days ago my wife and I were reminiscing about my graduate school days at Texas A&M and particularly about “movie nights” at the home of my adviser and dissertation chair, Dr. Phil West. That sparked an Internet search which revealed, to our great sadness, that Dr. West had passed away. A chance meeting with Dr. West at a school PR conference in Phoenix in 1981 turned out to be a life-changing experience, as 2-1/2 years later I was a student of his in College Station. He was a tremendous mentor, role model and friend and he gets a lot of credit for whatever success I have accomplished in my career as a professor. Alma, Phyllis and Tom, you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Take comfort in the fact that he touched lots of lives and will be missed by many!