Merle Phillips
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Pennsylvania state legislator Merle Phillips (2008).jpg
| name = Merle H. Phillips
| caption =
| office = Northumberland County Commissioner
| term_start = November 24, 2010{{cite web |title = Merle H. Phillips to become a Northumberland County Commissioner |date =2010-11-24|url = http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x675532083/Judge-mum-on-Phillips-heading-into-decision}}
| predecessor = Kurt Masser
| successor = Rick Shoch
| state_house2 = Pennsylvania
| district2 = 108th
| term_start2 = April 8, 1980{{cite web |title = Session of 1980 - 164th of the General Assembly - No. 25|work = Legislative Journal| publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives |date = 1980-04-08|url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1980/0/19800408.pdf}}
| term_end2 = January 4, 2011
| predecessor2 = George O. Wagner
| successor2 = Lynda Schlegel Culver
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|9|21}}
| birth_place = Dalmatia, Pennsylvania
| death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|mf=yes|2013|12|30|1928|9|21}}}}
| death_place = Sunbury, Pennsylvania
| party = Republican
| alma_mater = Susquehanna University
| occupation =
| spouse = Helen Heckert
| children =
| residence = Upper Augusta Township, Pennsylvania
| religion =
| website =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| branch = United States Marine Corps
| serviceyears = 1951 — 1957
| rank =
| battles =
}}
Merle H. Phillips (September 21, 1928 – December 30, 2013) was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 108th District from 1980 until retiring in 2010. He also was appointed as Northumberland County Commissioner in 2010 to finish Kurt Masser's term after the position was vacated when Masser was elected to the 107th District.
Career
Prior to his election to the State House, Phillips was the president of Irish Valley Food Processing. He served in the United States Marine Corps for four and a half years active duty and two years in the Reserves.[http://merlephillips.com Merle Phillips' Web Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227023839/http://www.merlephillips.com/ |date=2007-12-27 }}
Phillips ended his term serving in House Leadership as Republican Caucus Administrator. Previously, he has served as Republican Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee and Secretary of the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee, as well as serving as a member of the Transportation and Appropriations Committees.
On January 15, 2010, Phillips announced he would not be seeking reelection.{{cite news | title = Reps. Phillips and Fairchild stepping down | first = Erin | last = Thompson | url = http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_015130748.html | newspaper = Sunbury Daily Item | date = January 15, 2010 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120724140106/http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_015130748.html | archivedate = July 24, 2012 }} Since retiring from the state House of Representatives he has been appointed to fill a vacancy as a commissioner of Northumberland County in November 2010.
On November 8, 2011, Phillips only captured 17% of the vote for Northumberland County Commissioner.{{citation|title=Vote 2011 Election Results |url=http://www.wnep.com/wnep-vote-2011-election-results-20110517,0,3544621.htmlstory |date=8 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831193842/http://www.wnep.com/wnep-vote-2011-election-results-20110517%2C0%2C3544621.htmlstory |archivedate=31 August 2011 }} He was succeeded by Republican Rick Shoch.
Personal
Representative Phillips resided in Upper Augusta Township. He and his wife had five children.
Merle Phillips died on December 30, 2013.{{cite news | title = BREAKING NEWS: Former State Rep. Merle H. Phillips dies today at age 85 | first = Francis | last = Scarcella | url = http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1186900381/BREAKING-NEWS-Former-State-Rep-Merle-H-Phillips-dies-today-at-age-85 | newspaper = Sunbury Daily Item | date = December 30, 2013 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=95&body=H|title = Merle H. Phillips}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography
}}{{CongLinks |votesmart=9208}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071227023839/http://www.merlephillips.com/ Representative Merle Phillips' official web site]
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=95 PA House profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Merle H.}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Category:United States Marine Corps officers
Category:Susquehanna University alumni
Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania
Category:20th-century American military personnel
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly