Oberlin College Athletics

Jesse Philips worked his way through Oberlin College, graduating magna cum laude in 1937. He was a member of both the wrestling and football teams. A firm believer in physical as well as intellectual fitness, Philips generously supported athletics at Oberlin throughout his life. After graduation from Oberlin, he received his M.B.A. from Harvard University. In 1957, he founded Philips Industries and transformed a small company into a Fortune 500 corporation. Philips was an inveterate sportsman, with particular interest in skiing and yachting. He captained the "Charisma" in numerous international competitions. Philips also steered development projects in his adopted home city of Dayton, Ohio, Hillside College and Oberlin. Philips' leadership and philanthropy earned him recognition and acclaim by heads of state. His many honors included awards from the Harvard Business School, the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities and the U.S. Department of State. Philips served on the Oberlin Board of Trustees for nearly 20 years (1968-1987) and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities by the College in 1988. In 1971, Philips presented a gift of $1 million to help construct the physical education center that bears his name. His gift enabled Oberlin to build a state-of-the-art athletic complex that remains one of the top facilities among liberal arts schools. Philips passed away November 29, 1994.