Basil O. Phillips, Johnson Publishing Co. photo editor, dies at 77

By Norman Parish
Chicago Sun-Times
(August 30, 2007) Whenever Basil O. Phillips' friends and family had a birthday, they knew to expect a card, a gift or flowers. He would never forget.
It was that same attention to detail that helped make him a longtime, treasured photo editor at Ebony and Jet magazines.

Mr. Phillips headed a staff that cataloged and managed more than 1 million photographs, drawings, and color transparencies in the world's largest collection on the black experience in America.

The former board member of the National Association of Black Journalists-Chicago Chapter was known for his keen ability to locate photographs and identify sources.

On Monday, Mr. Phillips died at Warren Barr Pavillion after suffering complications of diabetes. He was 77.

"He was really generous," said Marcia Green, a Chicagoan whom he referred to as his goddaughter. "He would always send gift cards or give cologne, sweaters and plants. He would treat you to dinner. . . . He was just a giving man."

Basil Oliphant Phillips was born Feb. 19, 1930, in Kansas City, Mo. After graduating with honors from high school, he moved to Chicago at age 17. Mr. Phillips attended Roosevelt University and the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology.

He was employed at Abraham Lincoln Bookstore before joining Johnson Publishing Co. in 1951. He was promoted to photo editor in 1967, and retired from the black publishing giant in 2005.

"Basil Phillips was an exceptionally talented member of the Johnson Publishing Co. family," said Linda Johnson Rice, president & CEO. "As gatekeeper of our vast photo archives for more than 50 years, he was both passionate and dedicated to preserving some of the most important moments in African-American history. He will be sorely missed."

Mr. Phillips also was a director of special markets and promotions for the book division of Johnson Publishing, and had managed its company booth at more than 100 national conventions.

"He was smart as a whip," said Brenda Butler, a former Jet employee who is now senior features editor at the Chicago Tribune and president of the NABJ-Chicago Chapter.

Lynn Norment, managing editor at Ebony, agreed, saying, "He remembered everything. . . . He just loved helping others."

Mr. Phillips, who was always impeccably dressed, loved art and books. He served as Johnson Publishing's unofficial arbiter during company functions such as luncheons and receptions for visiting dignitaries. He also donated a large book collection to the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, and helped the local black journalists group raise more than $150,000 for scholarships.

He was even dignified as he approached death, Green said, noting he never complained about his illness.

"He was a very soft-spoken man, but he carried a big stick, said Art Norman, an anchor at WMAQ-Channel 5.

Mr. Phillips is survived by a nephew, nieces and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

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