Wendell H. Phillips
Encyclopedia
Wendell Harrison Phillips (November 19, 1934 – January 29, 1993) was an American politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates
and was the first African American
chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation
. Phillips was one of three delegates serving the 41st legislative district, which lies in the central, northwest section of Baltimore City.
at an early age. He was baptized at the Carrone Baptist church and attended Westinghouse High School
, both in Pittsburgh. He earned a B.S. from Virginia Union University
, attended Penn State University and received his M.Div. from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, University of Rochester
. He was an ordained clergyman and founding pastor of the Heritage United Church of Christ in Baltimore, Maryland from 1964 to 1993. Phillips served on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Advisory Board from 1968 to 1970. He was the President, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance in Baltimore and a delegate to the First Conference of Christians, Israelis, and Palestinians in 1976. Phillips is a past president of the NAACP of Rochester, New York
and active in the Civil Rights
movement.
.
, the mortorcycle-riding Phillips initially had a stormy relationship with then Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer
. As delegation chairman, Phillips was responsible for "pushing" the legislation in Annapolis that Schaefer thought was important for Baltimore. Phillips, the consummate bridge builder, knew that for Baltimore City to truly benefit from effective leadership, he and Schaefer had to find a way to work together for the betterment of Baltimore's entire citizenry.
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
and was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation
Baltimore City Delegation
The Baltimore City Delegation refers to the 18 delegates who are elected from districts in Baltimore to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. There are currently 6 legislative districts in Baltimore City with each having 3 delegates. The chairman of the delegation is...
. Phillips was one of three delegates serving the 41st legislative district, which lies in the central, northwest section of Baltimore City.
Background
Delegate Phillips was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
at an early age. He was baptized at the Carrone Baptist church and attended Westinghouse High School
Westinghouse High School
Westinghouse High School can refer to:* Westinghouse High School , Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania* George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, New York City Department of Education, Brooklyn, New York...
, both in Pittsburgh. He earned a B.S. from Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
, attended Penn State University and received his M.Div. from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He was an ordained clergyman and founding pastor of the Heritage United Church of Christ in Baltimore, Maryland from 1964 to 1993. Phillips served on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Advisory Board from 1968 to 1970. He was the President, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance in Baltimore and a delegate to the First Conference of Christians, Israelis, and Palestinians in 1976. Phillips is a past president of the NAACP of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and active in the Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
movement.
Family
Phillips married the former Dorothy Allen of Rochester, New York on June 11, 1960, the couple had one son, Wendell Fitzgerald Phillips who also served in the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
.
In the Legislature
Phillips was a member of the House of Delegates from 1979 to 1987 and a member of its Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee.He was also a member of the Joint Committee On Legislative Ethics. Although he was the chairman of the Baltimore City DelegationBaltimore City Delegation
The Baltimore City Delegation refers to the 18 delegates who are elected from districts in Baltimore to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. There are currently 6 legislative districts in Baltimore City with each having 3 delegates. The chairman of the delegation is...
, the mortorcycle-riding Phillips initially had a stormy relationship with then Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer
William Donald Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he was mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from January 21, 1987 to January 18, 1995, and the Comptroller of...
. As delegation chairman, Phillips was responsible for "pushing" the legislation in Annapolis that Schaefer thought was important for Baltimore. Phillips, the consummate bridge builder, knew that for Baltimore City to truly benefit from effective leadership, he and Schaefer had to find a way to work together for the betterment of Baltimore's entire citizenry.