Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-07-31
RaharA III. PhilIins.

Asheyille (Specia1s)-The memoir OF
Robert M. Phillips late associate ed1-
for of the Greensboro News and a
member of the North Carolina Press
association. was read at the annual
meeting of the association here this
week by Wade H. Harris. editor OF q
Charlotte Observer. The memoir fol-
lows:
Robert Masten Phillips, son OF M. >.
and Celia Phillips, was born n Moore
county, April 81, 1855. He entered a
printing Office at Carthage when IA
wears old and at the age of "a found
ed the Jonesboro Leader. Later he
was in the newspaper business for a
time in Goldsboro and followed the
trade in Winston-Salem until 1897,
when he went to Greensboro ON the
founding of The Telegram, of which ne
subsequently became editor. His next
journalistic engagement was as city
editor of the Raleigh Post, of which
paper he became editor on the death
of Robert M. Furman. He later had a
short connection with the New Bern
Sun, and on September 20, 1909, he be-
came connected with the Greensboro
Daily News as associate editor. This
post he filed with marked ability I'M
til on April 2, 1913. he was oyertaken
by death within 10 days of his 48th
birthday.
Mr.. President and members of the
Press association, this covers in brief
the turning points in the newspaper
career of the authenticated Bob Phil
lips. But it was not all of his public
life. With his equipment of facile pen
there went a deep, rich voice, melod-
ious in church choir and resonant in
the halls of the legislature as reading
clerk for a term in both the house and
the senate. The labor which fell upon
him in the performance of his duties
in the senate of the last legislature
strained his constitution to the break
ing point. He went to the old home
in Moore county to r~ecuperate, as he
Ii ped, but to die, as it proved. In the
membership of this association, past
and present, there stands no name
clt ser to it's heart than that OF the
companion who slipped so quietly
away from US. A man of splendid
physique, his heart was his largest
element. His genial soul radiated
sunshine. The grasp of his hand
r1eant a friendship formed. Those
who followed his writings will search
their memories in vain for an unkind
line he penned. His was the gospel
of love and good fellowship.
One year ago today. at the meeting
Of this association in Morehead City,
Mr.. Phillips paid tender tribute to the
memory of H. G. Dockery, a brother
editor whose death had occurred at
Rockingham. Those WIG listened to
his words had no thought that at this
meeting there would be with us~of
Phillips nothing but his memory-a
memory tenderly and %reverently en-
shrined. 1t is like a home-gathering
to find some cherished ornament miss
ing. The scenes are not the same
Scenes sung by him who sings no
more!
His bright and brief career is DER,
And mute his tuneful strains"
We miss him, but WI shall meet.
The end of life's journey came at the
falling of the peaceful evening shad-
ows, whittier we are drifting. AS we
believe it was with him, so may it be
with us-the waking in the, light of the
endless day in Thy house with Thy
people, o Mighty King!