Barry Phillips Sr.

Barry Phillips, a native of his beloved Valdosta, Georgia and former Chairman of the law firm of Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers, McClatchey, & Regenstein, now known as Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, died on January 23 of congestive heart failure. He was a graduate of Valdosta High School, the University of Georgia, and the University of Georgia Law School. He was a life-long scholar, lover of history, the practice of law, the University of Georgia, and most of all his family.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Grace Greer Phillips of Lakeland, Georgia, four wonderful children, daughter, Mary Grace Phillips Reaves of Atlanta and her husband, John Barry Reaves, Jr., three sons, Barry Phillips, Jr., his wife, Robin Schurr Phillips; John Greer Phillips and his wife, Dr. Lynley Durrett Phillips; all of Atlanta and Quinton Braddock Phillips and his wife, Cindy Jerrell Phillips of Watkinsville, Georgia; and five beloved grandchildren, Emily Greer Phillips, Callan Rachel Phillips, Laurel Grace Phillips, Lindsey Scarlet Phillips and Luke Durrett Phillips.

Barry served in the Korean War, stationed on the front lines where he was commander of a tank battalion. He earned the Air Medal for flying missions as an aerial observer identifying and calling back positions of enemy fire to the tanks and men on the front lines.

Barry was a lifelong supporter of the University of Georgia, earning many high honors. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, was a member of ODK, Sphinx, Gridiron, Phi Kappa Alpha, and was a Scholar Athlete. He attended college on a football scholarship under Coaches Wally Butts and Quinton Lumpkin and was proud that, under the auspices of Coach Lumpkin, he established the first tutorial and study hall for fellow athletes at the University of Georgia. He established two scholarships for the University of Georgia, one for the Law School, in honor of his law firm, the Kilpatrick Scholarship Fund, and the other to the University for Scholar Athletes, named in memory of his mentor, Coach Lumpkin. Barry graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia Law School in 1954.

He entered the practice of law with the firm known as Smith, Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers & McClatchey in 1954 and practiced with the firm his entire career, retiring in 1997 after 43 years of active practice and 12 years as Chairman of the Firm. In the beginning of his career, Barry practiced in all aspects of law, but his practice eventually changed to a specialty in mergers and acquisitions, banking and financial transactions. He was a fervent and passionate advocate for his clients in every endeavor and a mentor to generations of young lawyers. Barry was recognized by his peers as a giant in the legal profession and our community.

During his career, Barry was active in the civic life of Atlanta, serving as a founding member of the British American Society and the Canadian American Society, and was a member of the Society of International Business Fellows. He was an officer of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, former President of the Georgia Council of International Visitors where he was well known for his hospitality to international visitors, and was a member of The Lawyers Club of Atlanta, The Downtown Kiwanis, The Piedmont Driving Club, The Commerce Club, and many other professional associations. Barry was also Presiding Co-Chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the President of the Fulton County Division of the American Heart Association. He was named one of the Most Influential Georgians by both Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Trend Magazine and selected as a Best Lawyer in Atlanta.

Barry served as Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Chairman of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Board, and as the first Chairman of the Metropolitian Atlanta Olympic Games Authority for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta. Olympic Organizer, Billy Payne, solicited Barry, and his law firm’s help, with the organization of the games as a result of Barry’s friendship with Billy’s late father, Porter Payne. Barry was present in Tokyo in 1990 for the announcement of Atlanta as the winner of the Summer games and signed the contract as Chairman of the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority along with Mayor Maynard Jackson.

Clients valued Barry for his legal skills and his business acumen. He served as an Executive Committee Member of the Board of Directors of Bank South (now known as Bank of America) and as a Member of the Board of Directors of companies such as: Dodge Wire Company, Atlas Finance Company, Scripto, Inc., Colonial Stores, Fox Manufacturing Company, Life of the South, and IRT Realty. Barry retired from active practice in 1997, and continued Of Counsel to his firm until his death.

Barry was an avid traveler taking his family to all parts of the North and South America and Europe imparting to them a respect for people of different cultures, history & geography. He even started traveling with his grandchildren taking the older ones to London and the entire family on a Hawaiian cruise to celebrate his and Gracie’s 50th wedding anniversary four years ago. After retirement, Barry and Gracie traveled the globe, visiting more than 100 countries. His curiosity for other people, their cultures and their history knew no bounds.

Barry was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was supportive to all who knew him and he will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends at H.M. Patterson Spring Hill Chapel Wednesday January 25th from 5-7pm. Funeral Services will be held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church at Thursday January 26th at 3pm

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Scholarship Fund, in honor of Barry Phillips at the University of Georgia Law School, 120 Herty Dr, Athens Ga. 30602 in care of the Development Office.

Or the America Heart Association P.O. Box 840692 Dallas Texas 75284-0692 or www.heart.org. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com

& Son-Spring Hill Chapel, Atlanta, GA.