Richie Phillips
Richie Phillips | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 24, 1940 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | May 31, 2013 (aged 72) Cape May, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Villanova University |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse | Ellen Harrell |
| Children | 4 |
Richard Gregory Phillips Sr. (August 24, 1940 – May 31, 2013) was an American lawyer. From 1978 to 2000, he was general counsel and executive director of the Major League Umpires Association (MLUA). He held a similar position for National Basketball Association (NBA) referees. Phillips is notable for recommending that Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires resign en masse in 1999.
Biography
Phillips, the son of a police officer, was born in August 1940 in
Phillips' law office was located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[3] He represented the Transport Workers Union and handled legal matters for the top brass of the Carpenters Union.[3] He also represented about 30 athletes, which he maintained did not present any conflict of interest with his duties relating to sports officials.
In 1996, Phillips became the majority owner of Pilot Freight Services, based in Lima, Pennsylvania.[4] At the time, Pilot Freight was struggling to stay afloat in a sea full of transportation providers.[citation needed] Phillips was able to lead the company to the top of the industry, and by the time he stepped away from day-to-day management of the company, Pilot Freight Services was the largest privately held freight forwarder in the United States.[citation needed] In 2007, Phillips' son Richard Jr. became CEO of the company.[4]
Phillips served as general counsel and executive director of the
In 1964, Phillips married Ellen Harrell; they had two sons and two daughters.[2] He died of cardiac arrest at his home in Cape May, New Jersey, at age 72 in May 2013.[1]
References
- ^ a b Martin, Douglas (June 4, 2013). "Richie Phillips, Union Leader Who Helped and Hurt Umpires, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c Cook, Bonnie L. (June 5, 2013). "Richie Phillips, 72, former umpires union chief dies". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
- ^ a b Richard G. Phillips Associates, P.C. Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Office Profile, Martindale-Hubbell. Accessed October 5, 2013.
- ^ a b DiStefano, Joseph N. (July 22, 2010). "Despite economy, Pilot Freight's growing". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C3. Retrieved September 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
Further reading
- CNN/SI: "Richie's Gang" – 1999 article by Frank Deford
- CNN/SI: "Not even close" – 1999 article on dissolution of MLUA
- Doug Pappas, "22 Men Out", Society for American Baseball Research – 1999 analysis of the umpires' ill-fated mass resignation
- Referee magazine – 1979 interview
- Referee magazine: "Hindsight and History"