Liberia RPCV Robert H. Phillips received the Alumni Association's 2002 Excellence in Education Award
Receiving the Alumni Association's 2002 Excellence in Education Award is Robert H. Phillips of Lead. Phillips earned his bachelor of science in education from Black Hills State Teachers College in 1961. He returned to BH and earned his master?s degree in education in 1972.
In 1964 Phillips joined the Peace Corps and worked as a teacher for three years in Liberia. After his tenure in the Peace Corps and a year teaching in Minnesota, Phillips returned to the Black Hills where he served the Lead-Deadwood School District for the next 27 years. During that time, Phillips worked in a variety of positions including teaching, coaching, administration and sports officiating. Besides his many years as a football and basketball official at the high-school level, he was often an official at the annual alumni/varsity football games at BHSU.
Phillips retired as curriculum director in 1996. Phillips has long been involved with many community organizations, serving on the boards of the Black Hills Mining Museum, the Northern Hills Regional Railroad Authority and the Kiwanis Club. He was the president of the Lead Kiwanis Club for two terms, Lt. Governor of the Kiwanis' Minnesota/Dakotas District, and in 1990 Phillips received the Claire E. Faust Award for his work with the Circle K Club at BHSU.
Today Phillips is active with the Kiwanis Club and after working part-time in the private sector for six years he is once again involved in education as a substitute teacher. ?I?ve found I really enjoy teaching at the elementary level, and as long as they don?t call on Wednesday, my golf day, I?m available,? said Phillips.
