Phil, 76, who was NSA Secretary 1996-99, died October 9, 2001, in Missoula. He was born January 18, 1925, in Judith Gap, Montana, where he attended grade and high school. After attending Montana State for a quarter, he served in the Army Signal Corps. Phi returned to Montana State upon his discharge and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1951. He jumped at Missoula for two seasons while attending the university.

Phil trained with IBM in New York, worked at the Alameda Naval Air station and then returned to Montana in 1953 and opened an IBM office. Phil worked for IBM for 31 years, retiring in 1980.

In addition to his duties as a NSA Board Member, he was on the Young Audiences board of directors and an active Track & Field official for many years.