COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – From entrepreneur to community activist, Ottis Phillips has been a part of the TTU family since he was a walk-on player for Coach Don Wade. Married and the father of a new baby, Phillips knew it was going to take hard work and determination to get his college degree. Going from walk-on to a scholarship-assisted student-athlete, the demands of being a mechanical engineering major ensured he stayed busy.
"I think when I was a student-athlete, approximately 70 percent of the university's budget was state-funded, but state funding for higher education in Tennessee has steadily declined over the years," said Phillips. "Today, it's less than 30 percent. I'm not sure most alumni realize that. Alumni support and giving are critical to the success of TTU and are more important now than ever."
Phillips has been a loyal supporter of TTU Athletics and specifically the football program for 30 years. His company was one of the original sponsors of the Golden Eagle Scramble and later a founding sponsor of the Football Alumni Golf Classic, which is hosted each July to bring back former football players and engage them in the program. Director of the inaugural TSSAA Blue Cross/Blue Shield Bowl Steering Committee, Ottis was excited to see fans from across Tennessee experience the state championships in Tucker Stadium.
"I have been fortunate to be able to support TTU for many years, and I specifically support Athletics because of my positive experience as a student-athlete here in the early 1970s," said Phillips. "The discipline I learned on the football field combined with the great education I received have made all the difference in my career success. I think Athletics can play an important role in providing positive exposure for a university as well as attract quality students."
As Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland continue to grow, Phillips credits TTU with playing a major role.
"In my opinion, the success of higher education has and will continue to be key to growing our economy and providing jobs. I am excited about TTU's leadership under Dr. Oldham, and I believe he is positioning the university for a great future. I am blessed to live in this community where Tech brings so much to the quality of life here and contributes to the entire region."
Phillips and his wife Cindy have five children and five grandchildren. From a young age, he impressed upon them the importance of a college degree. Phillips received not only his undergraduate degree in engineering, but also his MBA from Tech.
"I am proud to say that come December, all five of my children will have earned a college degree, and three of them from TTU," he said.
If you would like to support Tennessee Tech Athletics, please contact Matt Pope (at 931-372-3929 or mpope@tntech.edu) or Kristie Phillips (at 931-372-6857 or kphillips@tntech.edu) in the Tennessee Tech Athletics Association.
