W. Thomas and Carline Phillips

("W. Thomas & Carline Phillips Family Fund")

Thomas and Carline Phillips set a goal in life to promote harmony and leave a family and community legacy. They feel strongly that they should provide financial resources and encouragement to individuals in need, because they feel their own success has been the product of others that supported them with financial and spiritual guidance as they were starting out.

After residing in Waterloo for almost 20 years, Thomas and Carline see it as their home. They moved in 1966 to pursue their careers, but never forgot the hometown that they loved so much. Through the establishment of the W. Thomas & Carline Phillips Family Fund, and several other funds through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, their commitment to their community will be felt for years to come.

W. Thomas Phillips was born on August 2, 1943 in Mississippi. The times were challenging, and Thomas lived in a community that was very segregated. He was an average student in school, but enjoyed working after school at such jobs as caddying at the local country club and delivering newspapers. His father was a laborer and his mother was a domestic worker. Carline Bradford was born on October 9, 1946 near the same Mississippi town as Thomas. Her father was also a laborer and her mother was a cook.

Before Thomas and Carline were born, their families became friends. When Carline and Thomas were about three or four, both their families moved to Waterloo for employment at the Rath Packing Company.

Young Thomas and Carline grew up in loving families that instilled many values in them. They were taught to set goals in life and hold honesty, integrity, faith, respect and the notion of "do unto others as you would want done to you" close to their hearts.

Both attended East High School, but it would not be until they met again on the UNI campus in 1964 that a romance would blossom. They were married on August 13, 1966.

Thomas obtained a B.A. in Business from UNI and went on to have a successful business career. He worked for 8 years with General Foods Corporation in White Plaines, NY and then 19 years with Quaker Oats in Chicago. After working as a consultant for a year, he began a position as Director of Community Investment with Pioneer Hi-Bred, a postion he held until his retirement. Carline received a B.S. from Framingham State and her PhD. from Iowa State University. She then worked as an adjunct professor at Drake University in Des Moines.

Beyond their professional accomplishments, Thomas and Carline Phillips have been active in their community serving on various civic and educational boards. The United Negro College Foundation, Institute for Character Development, University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa Commission of Volunteer Service are just a few of the organizations that have benefited from the Phillips' personal and financial contributions. The couple also enjoys golf, tennis, gospel music, and lifelong learning.

Thomas and Carline have been equally successful in their family life, raising three sons with the same commitment and values instilled by their parents. Craig is a successful father of 4; Lee works as a physical trainer in the Chicago area; and Ernest is pursuing a Masters Degree in Counseling at Iowa State University.

In 2006, Thomas and Carline were inducted into the East High Hall of Fame. During this time the Phillips decided to set up the Walter Thomas and Carline Bradford Phillips East High Hall of Fame Fund to benefit graduates of East High to encourage them to further their education, as they have. At this same time, the couple established the Dr. Carline Bradford Phillips Fund to benefit the charitable and educational causes, specifically reading programs and field trips, of Longfellow Elementary. This fund was established in recognition of Carline's love for education and teaching, and the inspiration the Carline received from teachers at Longfellow during the time she taught there.

In 2007, another fund was established. The Dr. Carline Phillips Delta Legacy Scholarship Fund was established for the Des Moines Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to be able to award scholarships to graduates of Black Hawk county and Des Moines high schools to continue their education.

Thomas and Carline give generosity a new meaning. Their willingness to give of their resources to benefit the Waterloo community will live on in perpetuity through the funds they have established and in the lives of those they continue to touch.