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Craig Phillips: A life well lived

1/19/2021

14 Comments

 
​By Bob Heist
​
“We might not be the ones to change the world. We might not belong to the few that ‘put a ding in the universe.’ We might not be something the whole world would celebrate. But … in the little corners that we live, in the lives that we’ve played a part in, we should be nothing but unforgettable.”
 ― Nesta Jojoe Erskine, Unforgettable: Living a Life That Matters

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The easy part are the memories. The hard part is the goodbye.

Meet Robert Craig Phillips, whose life journey ended on Jan. 15, 2021. He was just 63 years old.

So where to begin for the son of Bob and Leta Phillips? Newport Beach, California, where he was born? Guys Mills, Pennsylvania? Fargo, North Dakota? Brockport, New York? Or is it a dart on the map at countless places in-between?

I’ll take my chances with the dart.

Craig was unique, no doubt, a guy that walked to the beat of his own drummer. But that beat was his brilliance, and it touched countless lives. And that includes me.

Before we get to his life’s passion, which was the sport of wrestling, a quick note about what my friend meant personally.

It’s no secret that we worked and coached together for more than a decade. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. But a big chunk of what I became should never have happened.

The year was 1984, I had been in my wife’s hometown of Meadville with our two young boys for just a couple years. I had little purpose at that point, and worse yet, no direction. But somehow I ended up on the Williams Cafe morning league softball team. Somehow one man had just left a two-man sports staff at the Meadville Tribune. Somehow I asked Craig what it took to be a sports writer, and somehow he pushed Managing Editor John Wellington to hire me.

You can’t do that nowadays - no college journalism courses, had nothing to show as writing clips; hell, I couldn’t even type.

A 36-year career blossomed from that mid-morning conversation over a dive bar beer. I’ve traveled the country, covered everything from youth and high school sports, to Super Bowls, to NASCAR, to college football national championships, to NCAA basketball final fours, etc., etc. I ran the newsroom at three newspapers and either individually or as a staff (sports and news) won numerous national awards.

I was rewarded with a life that I never could have imagined before 1984. That was because of Craig, who saw something that I didn’t know existed.

So, yes, his passing hit hard.

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Craig's column header from his days at The Meadville Tribune
But Craig’s legacy has nothing to do with our relationship, but the countless lives he influenced through wrestling.

Craig was an awful good wrestler at both Maplewood and Pitt - hard-nosed, “One tough hombre,” as longtime friend Mark Dugan, himself a two-time state champion, put it. But he would become a great coach and ambassador for the sport.

From the early 1980s on, Craig was on the short list of Pennsylvania’s top wrestling writers for the Tribune (later the Oil City Derrick and Franklin News-Herald) and Pennsylvania Wrestling Roundup, and contributed to the national bible for the sport, USA Wrestling. 

“Good” doesn’t do Craig’s writing style justice. He was passionate beyond reproach. His knowledge was immense. His connections were practically unmatched.

And he did it all with a pen and paper - a laptop computer wasn’t his thing, once they became a thing for sports writers. He scratched out award-winning stories and transcribed them back to the sports desk over the phone - never missing deadline. The national wrestling writer of the year in 1990 about sums it up, right? Or is it his induction into both the Pennsylvania Wrestling and Softball Writers Hall of Fame?

He was amazing and articulate and honest.

And one helluva coach.

When Craig was gravely ill and eventually passed, the outpouring on social media was telling. From the great Wade Schalles to a who’s who list of coaches and wrestlers, the comments were unanimous.

“So friendly, kind and considerate. He'll definitely be missed,” Schalles wrote.

“Wow, RIP. Craig was my coach for 7 years. Spent a lot of time with him,” said former Meadville High state medalist Nick Pendolino. “Craig was the epitome of ‘never judge a book by its cover.’ He was a great coach! He was a great man!”

“I am really saddened by this loss to the wrestling community. Craig was my club wrestling coach and served as quite an influence in my life,” said John Reynolds, a former state medalist for Conneaut Lake. “His gruff, physical, no excuses coaching style gave his athletes confidence when he was coaching in your corner. He was ‘old school’ tough with his coaching style, but definitely cared about his athletes.”

“He shaped my freestyle and Greco career. Fare thee well,” said McGuffey’s multiple state medalist Tim Queen.

“Craig wrestled for me at Pitt. Truly loved the sport. RIP my friend,” said former University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Adams.
“Craig was one of the Team PA coaches when I won cadet nationals. He knew the sport inside and out. RIP,” added Biff Walizer, a multiple state champion for Bald Eagle Nittany and All-American for Penn State.
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Craig and his brother Todd in their youth showing off their many trophies.
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I was asked for Craig’s coaching record leading the Meadville Junior High program through a good portion of the 1980s. I was there, so you’d think I would know. I don’t - how about a ton of wins and I can’t remember losing a dual meet (apparently we did once).

He certainly was a major influence on some of the great MASH teams for Hall of Fame coach Dick Lumley, producing an unquestioned talent pipeline and then assisting on the high school staff from 1988-1992. He spawned future head coaches, including kids he first touched in elementary school - Jon Frye and Barry Anderson in Meadville. How many others followed his no nonsense, caring approach into coaching - throw a dart at the map.

Craig’s brainchild, the French Creek Freestyle Club, drew kids not only from Meadville and Crawford County, but included some of the state’s most elite names. FCFS was one of the country’s top clubs, attested by the swarm of kids that found their way onto the podium in Fargo.

He was a household name that top college coaches contacted for information on wrestlers he either coached or coached against. Craig’s word was gold. His thoughts valued. His endorsement earned numerous scholarship opportunities for kids.

I’d love to tell you about all the coaching trips we made to tournaments - in season and out - or the journeys as writers to the PIAA Championships in Hershey, and everything we did in-between with friends in the business or parents or coaches or former wrestlers, but those memories are for us.

From the cowboy boots to the flip-flops he adopted later in gymnasiums from here to there, Craig was one of a kind - the good kind.

How a life was lived is always up to other individuals’ interpretation in times like these - “But … in the little corners that we live, in the lives that we’ve played a part in, we should be nothing but unforgettable.”

Robert Craig Phillips was unforgettable and one damned good person.

That’s my interpretation.

Thank you, my friend.

Rest In Peace.

​
Bob Heist is former sports editor at The Meadville Tribune and long time executive editor at several papers around the country, He was kind enough to share his thought with us. Thank you Bob.
​​
Craig's Obituary and more thoughts on Craig can be found here
14 Comments
Marti Mailliarf
1/21/2021 08:57:01 am

What a tremendous loss! Wrestling was at a Pinnacle here in Northwest Pennsylvania with the two of you covering it ... The worst part of Growing Old is losing those people whom helped form you into the person you are today... Rest in Peace, Craig and much Love to you, Heister!!

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Aaron Hicks
1/21/2021 09:25:38 am

A great tribute to a great person. Rest in peace Craig.

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Todd Phillips link
1/21/2021 03:15:45 pm

Thank you for writing what you did, Scrap. Craig always called you Scrappie to me. He always spoke dearly of you.. He recognized your talent, your passion, that you were an undiscovered champion. That's what Craig did. He was a champion-discoverer He did it over and over and over, He loved to find the under-reported, the under-served. and give them a platform, to coach them toward a future he believed was there. He always took the time to provide the tools and encouragement people needed to get there. He always took the time. He was my brother and I loved him dearly, but I don't have a cloudy vision of who Craig was -- he was among the very best. The best sportswriters, the best coaches, the best people. If you had the blessing of crossing paths with Craig, I know he was looking at you as a future champion--and he wanted to help you get there.

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Donna Cessna
1/21/2021 03:40:51 pm

Craig was one of the absolute smartest people I've ever met. Bob, your words do him justice. He marched to his own beat; we were just lucky to have crossed his path.

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John McMaster
1/21/2021 05:09:08 pm

Scrappy, what a wonderful heartfelt tribute to your longtime friend, I doubt anyone could have said it better! The last time I saw Craig was in 2019 on the Giant Center floor immediately after the finals, joining myself, Greenville head coach John Reynolds and my son Jacob.
At the time I hadn't seen Craig to talk to him for probably 5-6 years, he came over to our little group celebration, looked at me and said "he made me look like a genius, I picked him to win" we all had a good laugh because no one, at least publicly, was picking him to win. When it comes to the sport of wrestling, Craig needed no one to make him look like a genius, he had the genius stuff covered all by himself. RIP.

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Todd Phillips
1/21/2021 05:45:22 pm

John,

I had the pleasure of being Craig's guest that weekend and taking photos for the Round-up, I have 3-4 photos from the finals I would love to send you.

Todd Phillips

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John McMaster
1/22/2021 06:43:13 am

Todd, You and Craig, amazing guys! Here you are mourning the loss of your brother and your first thought after reading my condolences is how to help someone have some keepsakes of the most amazing day of his life. You my friend are a gem! If your able to email them [email protected] would work. If they are hard copies send your mailing address to me at my email and I will gladly pay you for them. Thank you and God bless you and your family!

Craig Farrar
1/21/2021 07:19:19 pm

Craig did have a passion for writing & wrestling, Always remember his nick name "Joe". He really liked Joe Namath. Going to miss his bylines. Rest in pease

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Barry Anderson
1/21/2021 07:22:28 pm

Great job writing this article Bob. I grew up watching Craig on the mats wrestling for my dad when he was in high school When I hit 6th grade he was hired as the junior high coach and I was delighted He did lose a match that year I could not compete yet as a 6th grader but then the jr high teams he coached never lost again Then I remembered him mentioning a new coach coming in when I was in 7th. It was you of course. The impact that you both had on my formative years is immeasurable. Craig had a way of making you do things that seemed impossible. And sometimes with just a look other times with a set of well meaning but challenging words. And then you were there with a joke if we needed it. His profound respect for my father and his kind words about him were always much needed. It's hard to believe that I lost 2 of the biggest influences in my life in just over a weeks time. Who I am has much to do with both of them. I am grateful that I had both of them in my life. And will pass on what I have learned from them. And I might throw in a joke or 2 of yours for good measure. RIP Craig

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John White
1/21/2021 11:58:16 pm

Bob...Excellent piece on a great guy. I was stunned when my sister, Judy Stamm, called to inform me of Craig’s passing. I always enjoyed the two or three weekly telephone conversations with you and/or Craig at the Tribune while Bob McCray and I were at the Times Observer in Warren. You guys had a passion for outstanding local sports journalism that I like to think we shared up in Warren. In later years, I always looked forward to covering the Warren-Oil City football game (when my brother-in-law Paul Stamm was coaching the Oilers). It gave me the chance to prowl the sideline with Craig for an evening or afternoon each fall.
Craig had a gift for writing I always admired. He was factual. He was passionate. He could be tough, but he was always fair. They don’t make them like Craig anymore. God speed, my friend. You will be missed.

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Judy Stamm
1/22/2021 01:59:53 pm

I just wanted to share that Craig’s desire to help athletes succeed went beyond wrestling and football. When I coached swimming at Oil City he went out of his way to learn everything he could about the swimmers. He also mentored me on the finer points of what to comment on in an interview. “You might want to reword that!” was a frequent comment to a young and brashly coach when we talked after a meet.
In later years Craig would ride to Paul’s football games with me and the kids. He always talked to them like adults and listened to what they had to say. Our conversations were delightful and he regaled us with stories about some of his escapades.
Paul and I are so sorry for the passing of such a good friend. The pandemic has been so difficult but losing Craig has torn our hearts. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

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Kevin Greathouse
1/22/2021 02:12:48 pm

Bob...Excellent piece on a wonderful person and awesome coach. Craig was a coach that wanted his wrestlers to succeed in everything they do. Craig also help create some of the great Meadville wrestling teams ever in Meadville. As a wrestler for Craig I always wanted to push myself for Him and me. After tournament I had always enjoyed the articles in the paper that you or him had written. My father that passed in 1992 had great respect for you and Craig. God speed coach. You will be missed.

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Brad Piper
1/22/2021 05:32:38 pm

Great writing Coach Heist! I will never forget the time in practice when Coach Phillips used me to demonstrate a particular move (i believe it was a butt bump).Well it didnt go as planned and he literally almost broke me in half. For the next 30 years every time i would run into him at a rec softball tournament he would always ask hey Pipes hows the back doing? He also never forgot!

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John Beers
1/23/2021 06:35:55 pm

Craig was one of a kind. I was privileged to have known him. The world was a better place with him in it. Your story captures him and what he was. I learned at lot about coaching from him during my time coaching with the Jr. club in Meadville.

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