Walt Phillips, My Northeast Friend

A pillar of the El Paso community passed away Saturday morning after a long battle with health issues. Walt Phillips, a father, husband, grandfather, community leader, veteran and friend was a great guy. I know, that’s an expression that doesn’t mean a lot to some people, but it means a lot to me.

I didn’t spend any time with Walt during his illness, though I spoke with him periodically. When he told me he was on hospice, it was just too difficult to visit him during that time because I’m still having a hard time dealing with the loss of my father who was also in hospice.

I should’ve visited him. I feel horrible that I didn’t. No matter how much of a scab it would’ve pulled off of me after losing my dad, it’s nothing compared to what Walt was going through.



I can’t count on one hand the people in this town that have done for others to the extent that Walt Phillips did.

Walt’s emails were always signed with “Your Northeast Friend” and it was a campaign slogan he used when he recently ran for city council.

The guy gave of himself and never asked for anything in return.

Going to campaign forums in the Northeast is a unique experience to say the least. Often the atmosphere isn’t the most welcoming. But there was one thing that was always very welcoming…Walt’s ear-to-ear grin and soft friendly voice.

When I covered the campaign he was involved in, I kept thinking one thing to myself…how much I wanted him to win. I tend to root for the underdog anyway, but I especially was hoping Walt would win because he was such a nice guy. The adage is that nice guys finish last.

Walt was #1 in my book.

In the candidate forums I kept thinking to myself, he doesn’t belong on the stage with these people. It was a crowded field and intense. Walt was just too nice to be in politics, especially in that race. But he was doing it for the right reasons, he wanted to serve. He wanted to help people.

He didn’t get the most votes in that election and I couldn’t vote in the district. But if there was ever a guy that deserved to win, it was Walt. If Walt would’ve won, the Northeast would’ve been the real winner because even at his age, he was a tireless worker.

I'm not the only one who thought highly of Walt. Phillips was a big supporter of State Rep Joe Moody. Moody said he was very humbled by Phillips' support of his candidacy and had more to say about someone he called a friend.

"Walt was someone who tried everyday to make an impact on the world around him. He worked tirelessly on behalf of our veterans, active duty military, and their families. He was imstrumental in making the Flag Site in Northeast a hallmark of El Paso. And he ALWAYS took time to try and change the lives of the youth in our community - whether it was working with the Mayor's Top 100 Teens, or with HOBY, or just giving a young boy or girl some advice on life - he believed to his core that it was essential to impact young people in a positive way - to make them better people - and he did that for countless youth.

He was always quick with a joke - and had a smile that I will never forget. I was lucky enough to get to know him well - and to see the depth of his care and compassion. Walt was a beautiful human being - and my life is better because I had the opportunity to call him friend. I will miss him and so will our entire community - I can only hope that we all take his drive and energy and carry it forward in all the things we do - and never forget how important it is that we reach out and try and make a difference in a young person's life."

Normally I end my radio program with my motto, “Speak Truth to Power”. But on Monday, in honor of my friend Walt, I’m gonna change it up just for him.

He’s the sort of guy that deserves to have something named after him. Not because he wanted it, he was a really humble guy, but because we need to remember people like Walt Phillips and his advice he gave us all...to “Dare to Care”.