On April 12, 2001 the world lost an exceptional man named Melvin Phillip.
I had the privilege of working with Mel as his Assistant, that experience was wonderful but short-lived. When I first arrived to West Field as a Temp I had no plans in staying long, however Mel changed all that from the minute I got there he took me under his wing and wanted to teach me 13 years worth of knowledge. He had so much to teach and I had so much to learn, now he's gone and has taken all his wisdom with him. In a business like any other there is stress, you often see the worst of everything, the worst in peoples personalities, tempers exc., working with Mel was not always easy he was a perfectionist. Things had to be done not his way but the right way, our personalities were so similar they often clashed. However, Mel was a true professional never to proud to listen to opinions or to apologize when wrong.
He was the first to arrive to work and the last one to leave everyday, many people agreed he was a man who wore many hats. We often joked that he had part time jobs in every department, he was always there for all and any one who needed his help never turned anyone away.
Mel was the best boss any one could ever ask for I feel very cheated by his lost. Many remember him by.
His catch phrase " how's it doing kiddo" I remember him by " don't be a wise guy ". .
Mel will be missed by many, if the legacy of a man's life is measured by how many peoples lives he touched than a piece of Mel will live in all of us forever.
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