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Previously, as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Phillips was a circuit court] clerk in Alcorn County in northeastern Mississippi and a member and chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission from 1956 to 1959. By 1963, he had switched parties to become only the third Republican since 1877 to seek his state's governorship. Phillips ran on the slogan of "K.O. the Kennedys",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cresswellslist.com/ballots2/phillips.htm|title=K.O. The Kennedys! The 1963 Rubel Phillips Campaign in Mississippi|publisher=cresswellslist.com|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> even though he had backed [[U.S. Senator]] [[John F. Kennedy]] for the presidency in 1960 over the Republican [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Phillips, with 38 percent of the ballots cast, lost to Democrat Paul Burney Johnson, Jr., the son of a former Governor Paul Johnson, Sr. That election was held barely two weeks prior to the [[assassination]] of President Kennedy in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]].​

Previously, as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Phillips was a circuit court] clerk in Alcorn County in northeastern Mississippi and a member and chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission from 1956 to 1959. By 1963, he had switched parties to become only the third Republican since 1877 to seek his state's governorship. Phillips ran on the slogan of "K.O. the Kennedys",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cresswellslist.com/ballots2/phillips.htm|title=K.O. The Kennedys! The 1963 Rubel Phillips Campaign in Mississippi|publisher=cresswellslist.com|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> even though he had backed [[U.S. Senator]] [[John F. Kennedy]] for the presidency in 1960 over the Republican [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Phillips, with 38 percent of the ballots cast, lost to Democrat Paul Burney Johnson, Jr., the son of a former Governor Paul Johnson, Sr. That election was held barely two weeks prior to the [[assassination]] of President Kennedy in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]].​

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In 1967, Phillips ran as a [[Moderate Republican]] but lost decisively to the [[conservative]] Democrat John Bell Williams, then a veteran a [[U.S. representative]] who had been stripped of his seniority  by the House Democratic Caucus for supporting [[Barry M. Goldwater]], rather than [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].​

In 1967, Phillips ran as a [[Moderate Republican]] but lost decisively to the [[conservative]] Democrat John Bell Williams, then a veteran a [[U.S. Representative]].​

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==Background==​

==Background==​

Phillips was born to William T. Phillips and the former Ollie Fare in the village of Kossuth near Corinth, the seat of government for Alcorn County. He graduated in 1943 from Alcorn Agricultural High School in Kossuth. Thereafter, he enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] in which he served for four years in the Pacific Ocean Theater of Operationsduring [[World War II]] and, then, with the post-war occupation. Phillips also retained  a commission in the Navy Reserve, from which he retired at the rank of commander in 1963.<ref name=obit/>​

Phillips was born to William T. Phillips and the former Ollie Fare in the village of Kossuth near Corinth, the seat of government for Alcorn County. He graduated in 1943 from Alcorn Agricultural High School in Kossuth. Thereafter, he enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] in which he served for four years in the Pacific Ocean Theater of Operationsduring [[World War II]] and, then, with the post-war occupation. Phillips also retained  a commission in the Navy Reserve, from which he retired at the rank of commander in 1963.<ref name=obit/>​

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He graduated, first, from Millsaps College, a [[United Methodist]] [[liberal arts]] institution in the capital city of [[Jackson]],  then the [[University of Mississippi]]School of Law in Oxford. In 1956, Phillips was named an "Outstanding Alumnus" of Millsaps College. In 1959, he and later Lieutenant Governor Charles L. Sullivan were named among the "Outstanding Young Men of the Year" by the Mississippi Jaycees. He was formerly active in Kiwanis International.<ref name=obit/>​

He graduated, first, from Millsaps College, a [[United Methodist]] [[liberal arts]] institution in the capital city of [[Jackson]],  then the [[University of Mississippi]]School of Law in Oxford. In 1956, Phillips was named an "Outstanding Alumnus" of Millsaps College. In 1959, Phillips and later Lieutenant Governor Charles L. Sullivan were named among the "Outstanding Young Men of the Year" by the Mississippi Jaycees. He was formerly active in Kiwanis International.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1958, he entered the private practice of law in Jackson with the firm Overstreet, Kuykendall, Perry and Phillips. He was subsequently a senior partner in the reorganized firm, Perry, Phillips, Crockett and Morrison. From 1979 until 1990, Phillips was retained as a consultant and attorney for Mobile Communications Corporation of America, later MobileComm, a subsidiary of BellSouth. In 1993, he was accepted into the Master of Laws program at [[Cambridge University]]'s Downing College in Cambridge, [[England]].<ref name=obit/>​

In 1958, he entered the private practice of law in Jackson with the firm Overstreet, Kuykendall, Perry and Phillips. He was subsequently a senior partner in the reorganized firm, Perry, Phillips, Crockett and Morrison. From 1979 until 1990, Phillips was retained as a consultant and attorney for Mobile Communications Corporation of America, later MobileComm, a subsidiary of BellSouth. In 1993, he was accepted into the Master of Laws program at [[Cambridge University]]'s Downing College in Cambridge, [[England]].<ref name=obit/>​

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