Honorees

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Year Honored
2011
Honoree
William Douglas 'Doug' Phillips
Agency
Hospital Wing
Agency City
Memphis
Agency State
TN
Last Call
3/25/10
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
People remember Doug Phillips with a smile and a kind word. Doug touched so many lives, in so many ways. He was a man of the Lord. A strong Christian father and husband, a mentor to many, Doug gave of himself at work, in the ministry, in all he did.<br /> <br /> Many people used words like "The Best" or "The Greatest" or "The World's Greatest" to describe Doug. Young people he would meet in the ministry, and many of the people he worked with, credited Doug for being their most positive role model and for being one whom they try to emulate every day. Whether it is as a father, a husband, a Christian, a pilot, or a friend, many speak of his example and the large void that now exists with his loss.<br /> <br /> Doug enjoyed time with his family, including hunting, boating, fishing, and hiding Christmas gifts and setting out clues to help find them. He was passionate about flying and incorporated it in his desire to serve, first flying with the Memphis Police Department and then with Hospital Wing.<br /> <br /> On the morning of Thursday, March 25, 2010, the crew of Hospital Wing 5 received a call to transport a patient from Parsons, TN to the Jackson General Hospital. After completing the call, and with a storm quickly approaching, the crew took off to return to their base just a short flight away in Brownsville, TN. Just minutes from the base, the helicopter crashed at approximately 6:00 a.m. Doug Phillips, 58, flight nurses Misty Brogdon, and Cindy Parker were all killed in the crash.<br /> <br /> Doug would start most missions with a simple quote, "Y'all ready? It's a great day to fly!"<br /> <br /> Honored 2011