It was one of those special and nostalgic days for renewing old friendships and reliving exciting experiences of college years.
Th occasion was a Snow College alumni reunion at Ephraim, spearheaded by the Classes of ’34, ’35, and ’36 to establish the Lucy A. Phillips Endowment Fund.
The whole affair had an “I love Lucy” flavor. There as the central figure was Miss Phillips herself, the “grand lady of Snow” now in her eighties, a resident of Springville, her native home.
Members of her “family” – former students she’d taught during a four-decade career at Snow that started in 1926 – were present to greet her. They came from as far away as Canada and California … many realizing that at her age (and theirs) another such opportunity may never come.
The counties in Central Utah were especially-well represented by old grads. many of whom had finished at BYU or state colleges after the two years at Snow.
Floyd E. Breinholt, art professor at BYU, was reunion committee chairman and master of ceremonies. Mounted on the stand of the auditorium during the program and reception was a large portrait of Miss Phillips the work of artist Breinholt. Near the portrait sat the guest of honor.
Dr. Edward L. Christensen, professor of business management at BYU, presented a warm and sensitive tribute to Miss Phillips. He touched on her girlhood as her father’s “favorite right-hand man” on the farm… her early education in a one-room log schoolhouse in Hobble Creek Canyon… her high aspirations as she struggled to achieve bachelor and master degrees at BYU… and her significant teaching career that included stints at Provo, Orem, Grantsville and Dixie College in addition to the Snow years. Her specialty was English but there were other widely-ranging duties that brought her in close touch with the students.
Dr. Christensen told of special recognitions she had earned – an honorary doctorate at Utah State University, the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award, and the Ephraim Service Candle, among others. And crowning her teaching career, the naming of the new Snow College library for her – an honor often reserved for someone who has endowed a school with a lot of money.
Scrapbooks containing hundreds of letters from alumni were included in the Phillips memorabilia displayed in a beautiful glass case, unveiled in the library as part of the reunion. A form’er Snow librarian, Marjorie Madsen Riley, now of Salt Lake City, gave Lucy special help in assembling her awards, papers, scrapbooks, and other items in the impressive collection.
Dr. Christensen quoted some of the letters from former students: “You gave me confidence and courage”… “You awakened the slumbering potential in young people” “Your magnetic spirit motivated us…” And he commented that her name, inscribed on the Snow library, also is etched forever in the memories of many pupils whose lives she touched.
Dr, J. Marvin Higbee, Snow College resident, praised the honoree for her service to the institution. Alumni who took part in one way or another at activities during the day included Arthur Nielsen, Salt Lake attorney now chairman of the Snow Institutional Council; Evelyn Smythe McNeil of Ephraim; Joseph Crane of the Snow faculty; Duane Frandsen. Price attorney ; Ralph A. Britsch, retired BYU professor ; Timothy H. Bowerslrons of Nephi ; and Ellis Rasmussen of the BYU faculty.
Dorothy Thomson Jonas of Salt Lake, a favorite vocalist on the Snow campus in the thirties, brought back fond memories with a beautifully-performed solo; Chester Hill of Orem played a medley and proved he hasn’t lost his touch as a piano virtuoso; and Harvey Rawlinson of Pleasant Grove conducted and his sister Lynette Thorderson accompanied as the alums stood and sang the school song.
As the program moved toward its climax, few present could gainsay a wave of emotion as Bill Peterson of Ogden, star Class of ’34 dramatist, recited a poem, “Maestra” written by Betty Wall Madsen of Salt Lake and dedicated to Miss Phillips. Then the honored guest responded. She, reminisced, philosophized a bit, and touched on the serious and the light aspects of Snow’s development. She called for continued support of the school, and typically, thanked her students “for being my best teacher.”
Ethelyn Peterson Taylor of Salt Lake, former BYU faculty member and enthusiastic Snow supporter, and Mrs. Riley were hostesses at the reception which followed.
Withal, it was a memorable ”day of the heart” and a deserved tribute to a master teacher. We think you’d like Betty Madsen’s sonnet which does a good job of portraying Lucy Phillips’ contribution at Snow:
They came to her, tall from their father’s farms,
Brown with the sun, with morning in their eyes,
Wearing the summer on their strong young arms,
Walking with willow-wind upon their thighs.
From villages and from a city street
They came with red-lipped songs for her to hear,
The gay girls with their voices high and sweet,
And the bronzed boys, their laughter sweet and clear.
She took the wild green singing that they brought,
The childish words and untrained melodies,
And with a master’s hand she tempered, taught,
And urged immortal music out of these.
She touched the young musicians, made them wise.
But left them still with morning in their eyes.