Phil and I weren't good friends but he always spoke to me whenever he saw me. I saw Phil in boot camp in San Diego. I was getting ready to leave and he had just enetered Advanced training. We talked for a little while and he told me that he was not happy in the Navy. A few months later I was in Pampa on leave getting ready to go to Viet Nam and heard about him being killed. I went to the funeral felt that I had lost a friend.
I knew Phil from first grade at Baker Elementary, and maybe even before that. We lived in the same southside neighborhood. He was always bigger, smarter, and happier than the rest of us. I will never forget the "pressure" to achieve that he and Janie Hammons exerted on me at Baker Elementary.
One day in about sixth grade, we were in our old tin garage building something. Phil put his toe out to pretend to interfere with my hammering on something that I was trying to put together on the floor. I took a shot at his toe with my hammer, and he pulled back his toe just in time. The game continued, and I changed up the rhythm of my work to have a better chance to get him. He continued to win the race except for that one last time. I nailed him right on the big toe. He hopped around holding his toe, cursing, and laughing when he could. When he stopped the dance, he had tears in his eyes from the pain but a huge smile of friendship for me. I am sure that I felt worse about it than he did.
Phil Long. What a memory. What a friend. I met Phil at PJHS (the old one) when we moved back to Pampa in 1964 after being away for two years. He was a hoot and I along with every one else I enjoyed being around him. I remember that he would do things on the impulse. One time, on a warm morning in Mr. Patillo's algebra class, he all of a sudden threw my algebra book out the window (second floor)! He thought that was hilarious! I had to get permission from Mt. Patillo to the restroom - and he sure gave me a weird look when I marched back in with my book. Again, Phil thought that was hilarious! He also gave Sheila Givens a tough time just because she sat in front of us. "Ornery" didn't describe Phil. I will never forget the image of him at the funeral home with Susan Smith sitting there in tears. I will always wonder what kind of reunions we would have had he could have joined us. We lost a friend when we lost Phil. Rest in Peace, my brother. Your dear friend, Dewey Wheat.
For some crazy reason Phil and I decided to join the Navy on the buddy system after we graduated from PHS. We took a bus to Albuquerque where we spent an eventful night and flew out the next day to San Diego, CA. It was late at night when we stepped off the shuttle bus from the airport and onto the grounds at Naval Training Center. I think it must have been the first time in our lives we had either one been called a "maggot". We looked at each other and realized at the same time we were no longer in Texas.
As in school, Phil's leadership qualities became apparent and he was soon made a squad leader. We endured the horrors of boot camp and both received orders to radio school.
I guess in some ways we became "men" together, but nothing prepared me for the news he had been killed on graduation night 1970. I will always treasure the memories we shared together . . . and that wonderful smile.
I think of Phil as more or less a force of nature who would have had a significant impact in some way or other had he lived. He was talented in many ways, in athletics (I remember a block he put on me in the Rebels v. Reapers game in 9th grade, as well as the easy way he hit home runs on my Babe Ruth League baseball team) and with plenty of intelligence. But above all he had that strong and good personality and presence (what a great smile he could turn on)....he was a person to be reckoned with. I miss him.
I think Phil touched everyone he came in contact with in some special way. So many fun memories. He taught me how to peel out in the parking lot of the high school. It is a wonder I still had a transmission.
I remember his kindness to everyone . What a huge loss for us all.
I always thought Phil was a great guy. We did some running around but not a lot. I remember his smile the most. It was one of those great big broad smiles you never forget... Isnt is funny that he had so much in common with the great loss from my class--Johnny Marsh. They had so much in common it was not funny. They were both very impulsive and could make you laugh just by doing some of the goofy things they did. They were both great guys we all miss a lot.
I remember Phil mostly from PJHS, we were in the same science class with Coach Friemel (Buttons, for those of you who remember). Phil and Hal loved to tease Coach Friemel and found themselves at the end of his paddle probably more times than they wanted to. Phil did have one of those smiles that could melt you, I will never know how his Mother ever disciplined him. He had that beautiful black, wavy hair and as we all remember, he never met anyone he did not like. Although I was not a close friend, I always loved the way he was friendly to everyone.
Phil Long.....how I loved him....let me count the ways. He was so nice....great smile...he gave me brotherly advice even though I had three brothers....he helped me to understand practically everything there is to know about geography at Baker grade school...just sooo cute. Thanks for the memories my handsome friend.
Billy Irvin
Phil and I weren't good friends but he always spoke to me whenever he saw me. I saw Phil in boot camp in San Diego. I was getting ready to leave and he had just enetered Advanced training. We talked for a little while and he told me that he was not happy in the Navy. A few months later I was in Pampa on leave getting ready to go to Viet Nam and heard about him being killed. I went to the funeral felt that I had lost a friend.Buzzy Green
I knew Phil from first grade at Baker Elementary, and maybe even before that. We lived in the same southside neighborhood. He was always bigger, smarter, and happier than the rest of us. I will never forget the "pressure" to achieve that he and Janie Hammons exerted on me at Baker Elementary.One day in about sixth grade, we were in our old tin garage building something. Phil put his toe out to pretend to interfere with my hammering on something that I was trying to put together on the floor. I took a shot at his toe with my hammer, and he pulled back his toe just in time. The game continued, and I changed up the rhythm of my work to have a better chance to get him. He continued to win the race except for that one last time. I nailed him right on the big toe. He hopped around holding his toe, cursing, and laughing when he could. When he stopped the dance, he had tears in his eyes from the pain but a huge smile of friendship for me. I am sure that I felt worse about it than he did.
Dewey Wheat
Phil Long. What a memory. What a friend. I met Phil at PJHS (the old one) when we moved back to Pampa in 1964 after being away for two years. He was a hoot and I along with every one else I enjoyed being around him. I remember that he would do things on the impulse. One time, on a warm morning in Mr. Patillo's algebra class, he all of a sudden threw my algebra book out the window (second floor)! He thought that was hilarious! I had to get permission from Mt. Patillo to the restroom - and he sure gave me a weird look when I marched back in with my book. Again, Phil thought that was hilarious! He also gave Sheila Givens a tough time just because she sat in front of us. "Ornery" didn't describe Phil. I will never forget the image of him at the funeral home with Susan Smith sitting there in tears. I will always wonder what kind of reunions we would have had he could have joined us. We lost a friend when we lost Phil. Rest in Peace, my brother. Your dear friend, Dewey Wheat.
Marvin David Webster
For some crazy reason Phil and I decided to join the Navy on the buddy system after we graduated from PHS. We took a bus to Albuquerque where we spent an eventful night and flew out the next day to San Diego, CA. It was late at night when we stepped off the shuttle bus from the airport and onto the grounds at Naval Training Center. I think it must have been the first time in our lives we had either one been called a "maggot". We looked at each other and realized at the same time we were no longer in Texas.As in school, Phil's leadership qualities became apparent and he was soon made a squad leader. We endured the horrors of boot camp and both received orders to radio school.
I guess in some ways we became "men" together, but nothing prepared me for the news he had been killed on graduation night 1970. I will always treasure the memories we shared together . . . and that wonderful smile.
I can still hear him say "Webster, Your crazy."
Josiah M. Daniel III
I think of Phil as more or less a force of nature who would have had a significant impact in some way or other had he lived. He was talented in many ways, in athletics (I remember a block he put on me in the Rebels v. Reapers game in 9th grade, as well as the easy way he hit home runs on my Babe Ruth League baseball team) and with plenty of intelligence. But above all he had that strong and good personality and presence (what a great smile he could turn on)....he was a person to be reckoned with. I miss him.Josiah
Judy Stone
I think Phil touched everyone he came in contact with in some special way. So many fun memories. He taught me how to peel out in the parking lot of the high school. It is a wonder I still had a transmission.I remember his kindness to everyone . What a huge loss for us all.
David Schaub
I always thought Phil was a great guy. We did some running around but not a lot. I remember his smile the most. It was one of those great big broad smiles you never forget... Isnt is funny that he had so much in common with the great loss from my class--Johnny Marsh. They had so much in common it was not funny. They were both very impulsive and could make you laugh just by doing some of the goofy things they did.They were both great guys we all miss a lot.
Connie Ladd (Stephenson)
I remember Phil mostly from PJHS, we were in the same science class with Coach Friemel (Buttons, for those of you who remember). Phil and Hal loved to tease Coach Friemel and found themselves at the end of his paddle probably more times than they wanted to. Phil did have one of those smiles that could melt you, I will never know how his Mother ever disciplined him. He had that beautiful black, wavy hair and as we all remember, he never met anyone he did not like. Although I was not a close friend, I always loved the way he was friendly to everyone.Diana Rose (Payne)
phillip had so much charisma. He could have anything or any one he wanted. Had nice folks and a colorful character of a brother.Patricia Cole (Duggins)
Phil Long.....how I loved him....let me count the ways. He was so nice....great smile...he gave me brotherly advice even though I had three brothers....he helped me to understand practically everything there is to know about geography at Baker grade school...just sooo cute. Thanks for the memories my handsome friend.