Phillips, R.H.D. (Bob) (1921-2006)

Bob Phillips, born on December 3, 1921, in Regina, started post-secondary education at Regina College and, after an interruption during World War II, completed a BA in economics and political science at the University of Saskatchewan. He gravitated to journalism almost immediately, working for Canadian Press, the Leader-Post , and for three years in the 1950s for United Press International in London, England. In 1960, he joined the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool as an economist and director of research, organizing a research staff and becoming embroiled in some of the major agricultural and economic issues of the day. For thirteen years, until his retirement in 1986, he was the publisher of the Western Producer , a weekly newspaper concerned with prairie agriculture. He also built Western Producer Prairie Books into a significant publishing company, and oversaw the expansion of Modern Press into Saskatchewan’s second largest printer. Along the way, he wrote a weekly column and published two books: Western People and People and Places. Phillips has been involved in many community groups, including active work in the Presbyterian Church and the universities in Saskatoon and Regina. Honours include: honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Regina (1988); Citizen of the Century award from the city of Saskatoon (1989); Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada (1989); honorary life member, Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (1990); meritorious service award, Nutana Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (2000); and Member of the Order of Canada (2002). From 1986 until his death, he was partner and principal of Bell Phillips Communications Inc. of Saskatoon, a family-owned publishing company. R.H.D. Phillips died in June 2006.

Barry Wilson