Tribute to Philip Grose, Jr.

TRIBUTE TO PHILIP G. GROSE, JR. -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 14, 2004)

SPEECH OF HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004

Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding public servant from the State of South Carolina, a dear friend, and former colleague, Philip G. Grose, Jr. Phil is officially retiring from State Government as Director of the South Carolina Executive Institute after serving in various state government capacities for 36 years. His extraordinary leadership and service deserve recognition.

Phil is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, but he left his home state to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. His first professional job was as a staff writer and sports reporter for the Charlotte Observer in 1960. He went on to hone his writing and investigative skills as a reporter for Broadcasting magazine in New York, but returned to his native state to accept a position at The State newspaper in Columbia. There he served as Sports Writer and Business Editor, before finding his niche as Government Affairs Editor. That assignment helped Phil marry his love of politics to his skill of writing, and would unwittingly launch his second career in government.

In 1967, Governor Robert E. McNair recognized Phil's expertise and invited him to join the Governor's staff as News Secretary and Research Assistant. His adeptness and understanding both government and the media insured Phil's success in this role.

In 1967, John Carl West succeeded Bob McNair as Governor and invited Phil to serve in the new administration as Executive Assistant for Public Affairs. It was while Phil was preparing to serve in this capacity that he and I first met, when after some cajoling from him I accepted an invitation from Governor West to join his staff and was placed under Phil's tutelage. Phil shared his enormous talents and his enthusiasm was infectious. He merged efficiency and effectiveness in a manner I had not seen before, and made government work fun and productive. I learned a great deal from him and developed a great deal of admiration and respect for him.

Because of his tremendous abilities, Phil was elevated through a number of increasingly important positions in state government after Governor West tenure as Governor ended in 1975. Phil served as Executive Assistant to the President of the University of South Carolina, Chief Deputy Commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Director of the South Carolina State Reorganization Commission, and Assistant Executive Director of the State Budget and Control Board.

In 1989, Phil was tapped to serve as the Director of the Executive Institute, where he leads statewide executive education programs for public sector leaders. He also manages the South Carolina Center for Excellence and the Budget and Control Board's training center.

Phil Grose is married to the former Virginia Maxwell. They have a daughter, Patricia Grose Williams, a son-in-law John D. Williams, and two grandsons, Harrison Philip Williams and David McCully Williams, all of Starnberg, Germany. Phil and his wife have both had very distinguished careers, and my wife Emily have enjoyed being a part of their professional and personal lives. Although Phil has decided it is time to retire from his official role as a public servant, I know he will never relinquish his role of serving the public.

Mr. Speaker, I invite you and the members of this august body to join me in commending Phil Grose on his compassion, his intelligence, his unflagging sense of humor, and his uncompromising dedication to his home state. His name may not be well known, but his words and phrases broadly read and widely quoted. His work is evident throughout South Carolina state government, and serves as an inspiration to many of us who currently serve. The impact of his service will be felt by future generations of public servants, and I am proud to have him as a friend and to honor him today.

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