Ever a role model and mentor for band directors, Phil Anthony led by example, both in the band hall and in his professional associations. He put students first, and they in turn have been leaders in their schools and cities. The many individual honors won by his students testify to Phil’s musicianship and leadership.

Phil was born to father, Philip, and mother, Dorothy Anthony, a tailor, in Denver. The family moved to Amarillo, where Phil played euphonium and was an outstanding member of the high school band, which was directed by Charles Emmons.

After graduating in 1958, he enrolled at Texas Tech to study engineering. He became a member of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and, after two years, music became such an important part of his life, he changed his major and later graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He was elected as president of the band and as a member in Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha.

He married Pat Crozier and taught one semester at Whitharrel, while Pat finished her degree in piano performance. That fall, they moved to Clarendon and he spent three years teaching all music courses in the public schools. They moved to Littlefi eld and Phil became band director at the high school there. After three years, he was selected to take the reins at Coronado High School in Lubbock, a position he held for 26 years.

His bands set a high standard of performance. In addition to the sweepstakes awards, his concert band appeared at the Mid-West Band Clinic in Chicago and was named Outstanding Band at the Greater Southwest Music Festival; his marching band won the Sun Bowl Invitational and was named Runner-Up at the Fiesta Bowl.

He is a member of TMAA, TMEA, TBA, and Phi Beta Mu, as well as several scholastic organizations. He invited many Tech students to do their practice teaching at Coronado and he remains a mentor to many of them. He has also been on the faculty at the Texas Tech Band Camp since 1966, teaching euphonium and conducting one of the camp bands. His leadership has been evident at the region level, where he was band chairman and regional chairman numerous times, and at the state level, where he was elected to Board of Directors of the Texas Bandmasters Association, serving as president in 1994.

Phil and Pat have two daughters, Amy and Mary, and four grandchildren. Pat still teaches piano and Phil is now the director of the West Winds, an adult community band founded by Dean Killion, a Hall of Fame member and Phil’s college band director. He serves on the board of Directors Choice, a music festival group. Phil also serves on the board of his church. In his spare time, Phil spent many summers on the house roofs across Texas, doing appraisals on damage done by God’s percussion section.