I noticed that it said his wife was 15 when they got married. It failed to mention that he was either 15 or 16. It also said he was into heavy "drinking, sex, and rock and roll music before he found Jesus." I guess that means he went out and sewed some wild oats after he got married. Sounds like he may not have been hunting as much as he told his wife.
They got married very young, her father died while she was in high school which changed the home situation for her. He was married when he came to Tech. After he graduated, he went to Arkansas to teach and had someone on the faculity that loved to hunt as much as he did. He also like to drink and soon he and Phil were doing both to a great extent. He resigned from teaching before they fired him and started running a bar. (Phil says worst mistake he ever made). Blacks on one side, whites on the other, pulled his trailer house up next to it with three kids and Miss Kay. Kay helped run it thinking it would keep Phil out of trouble. Phil was spiraling out of control. Finally when the owners of the bar told him they were raising the rent, he attacked them and injured both and went on the lam hiding out from the law in Arkansas. Miss Kay moved the family to West Monroe, got a job at Howard Brothers. Phil finally broke down and wanted his life to change. It took a while to find Miss Kay and the kids (who were terrified of him). Kay agreed that Phil could see her if he changed. She arranged for him to talk to the pastor from Whites Ferry Church, which had been helping Miss Kay. After listening, questioning, and reading the bible for himself, he repented and became a dedicated Christian, almost always adding gospel to his duck hunting talks. I think he was 29 at the time.
Good for Phil. I'm glad he saw the light!!!
Awesome story of how Christ and a relationship with him changes lives!
Awesome story of how Christ and a relationship with Him changes lives!
The fact remains he does not give two rat's asses about Tech, and never will. I am glad he turned his live around, but Tech is and will remain just an asterisk in his complicated life.
The Lamar game is being promoted as Sportsman's Paradise Day. Let's hope that means Phil and family will be greeted at Aillet Stadium that day.