James D. Phillips Fund
The James D. Phillips St. George Academy Fund, established in 2017 by Alice E. Phillips in memory of her husband, provides grants for the maintenance and benefit of the St. George Academy Historical Property, with the option to fund a history scholarship for a Tucker County graduate if the Academy no longer requires support.
TYPE OF FUND: Designated
DATE APPROVED: May 2017
PURPOSE: To provide grants for the maintenance and benefit of the St. George Academy Historical Property. If funds are not needed for the Academy or if that part of the endowment is no longer possible, the donor requests the funds to be used for a scholarship for a Tucker County graduate pursuing a history degree.
DISTRIBUTION: Upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee and approval by the full Board of Directors of TCF.
VARIANCE POWER: The Fund shall be subject to the Foundation’s Asset Development Policy and specifically the Foundation’s Variance Power which states: “If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the Fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment, or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund. Tucker Community Foundation has exclusive legal control over its assets.”
FUNDING: Initial donation by Alice E. Phillips upon the death of her husband, James D. Phillips Sr.
BACKGROUND: James Dale “Jim” Phillips Sr. was born on August 30, 1930, in Parsons, West Virginia, to Joe and Hazel Ann Plum Phillips. On July 3, 1954, he married Alice Elaine Parsons, and together they had three children: James Dale Jr., John Patrick, and Regina Dawn.
A 1948 graduate of Parsons High School, Jim was inducted into the Parsons High School Hall of Fame in 2005. He held various jobs, including delivering milk as a child during World War II, working in a sawmill, and later at the Parsons Tannery, Dorman Mills, Keeley Construction, and Kingsford Charcoal Company.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and later used the G.I. Bill to study forestry at West Virginia University and Davis & Elkins College. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in research, focusing on environmental issues like acid rain effects. His career included advanced studies in chemistry and atmospheric deposition, and he retired as a Biological Laboratory Biochemistry Technician after 25 years of service.
Jim was also deeply involved in public service. He was elected Sheriff and Treasurer of Tucker County from 1960-1964, working to stabilize the county’s finances. He later served six years on the Tucker County Board of Education, including two as president. He was instrumental in the dedication of Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School.
A passionate historian, Jim was a longtime volunteer, curator, and board member of the Tucker County Historical Society. In 2007, he was recognized by First Lady Gayle Manchin as a West Virginia “History Hero.” He and Alice played a major role in achieving National Register status for the St. George Academy, which was historically significant to Alice’s family.
Beyond his professional and civic contributions, Jim was dedicated to farming, gardening, and supporting Tucker County 4-H programs. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Parsons, a member of the West Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, and Post 200 of the American Legion.
At the time of his passing on February 1, 2017, at the age of 86, Jim lived in the Blackman Flats Community. His legacy lives on through this fund, supporting the preservation of local history and education in Tucker County.
