Phillips, Dr. Larry

Interview 275a: In this interview with Jonathan Gerland, long-time President of Angelina College Dr. Larry Phillips reminisces about his life, his career in education, and the successes of Angelina College. He discusses his early years as a student and teacher and then spends most of the interview focused on Angelina College, which he presided over for 24 years as its second president. Dr. Phillips discusses the challenges and rewards of the community college system in Texas, his belief in community colleges as agents of change in the lives of their students and in the community as a whole, the changes in the educational processes he has witnessed, and the needs of the community college system in the future. He praises the Lufkin and Angelina County community for its support of the College and its programs and credits the community, the board, the donors, and the faculty and staff for the College’s successes over the last 50 years. Dr. Phillips particularly mentions the vocational and nursing programs as successful programs and also discusses the community services programs, the partnerships with Buckner Family Place and local high schools, and the Angelina Arts Alliance.