Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
John Marvin "Buddy" Phillips, Jr., gave his life to the citizens of Florida as a public servant, leader, and most notably, one of Florida's prominent law enforcement officers. To his colleagues, he was affectionately nicknamed the "Sheriff of Florida," a nod to his service to several counties in the state as the top law enforcement official. To his friends and family, he was known simply as "Buddy."
Phillips was known to give back to the community in many ways. One of the charities close to his heart was the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches (FSYR), an organization that he was able to see come to life while serving as a patrol deputy with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO). Phillips gave his time to the children who entered the ranch and volunteered with them on numerous projects. In the 1960s, he was featured in several films that were produced by the FSYR. He also volunteered to take part in Florida Governor Claude Kirk's inaugural parade to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the FSYR by riding on a giant cake adorned with candles.
His career took center stage in 1968 when he ran for and was elected Sheriff of Suwannee County. At the time, he was only 29 years old, one of the youngest elected sheriffs in Florida history.
As the chief law enforcement officer of Suwannee County, Phillips oversaw the county during an era of transition in pressing times, as civil rights laws began to take effect in the county. Law enforcement practices were starting to progress but still had a long way to go. Phillips, who attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation training in 1967, knew that change was coming. However, the people of Suwannee County spoke in 1972 when he was defeated during a re-election bid against Robert Leonard, who went on to serve multiple terms as sheriff. Phillips could not implement solid change to the agency but felt his career in law enforcement was far from over. Thus began a storied career spanning six decades and several law enforcement agencies.
Buddy was born on Feb. 7, 1939, to John Marvin and Lillian Phillips in Live Oak. His father was the mayor of Live Oak for 20 years and the founder of Suwannee Laundry Dry Cleaning, which is still in operation and run by Phillips’s younger brother, Joe.
"Buddy was my mentor," said Joe, who was the youngest of the four siblings. "Hunting, fishing, Buddy always took me with him and also kept me in check when I needed to be checked."
Phillips grew up in Live Oak, being educated by the Suwannee County School District and ultimately graduated from Suwannee High School. He was on the football team and was active in different clubs.
While attending high school, Phillips was hired by the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) in 1956 as a part-time jailer under then-Sheriff Hugh Lewis. Following graduation in 1957, he accepted a football scholarship at the University of Florida and left Suwannee County. However, he chose to transfer to South Georgia College in Douglas, where he was coached under future Florida State University head coach Bobby Bowden.
In 1960, Phillips traded his school books for a military uniform and enlisted in the United States Army Military Police Corps' European Command. During his time with the Army, he had begun corresponding with a young woman from Jacksonville named Mary Jo Rogers.
Upon leaving the military, he married Mary Jo, returned to Live Oak, and in 1964, at the age of 25, took a job as a deputy with the SCSO under Sheriff Duke McAlister. This was the beginning of a fruitful, lifelong career in public service.
As a deputy sheriff, Phillips was dedicated to helping families get out of sticky situations but also had a soft spot for children who needed a mentor. He became involved with the FSYR (then the Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch), and offered his support and mentorship to the children who came through the program. He would also sit on some of the boards within the FSYR.
As the years passed, Phillips continued serving Suwannee County as a deputy. Then, on Feb. 16, 1968, McAlister announced that he would be retiring as sheriff.
During a time when the country was seeing a shift in attitudes, Suwannee County was still slowly progressing. But that did not stop 29-year-old Phillips from throwing his hat in the ring for sheriff on March 14. Though his career as a law enforcement officer was relatively shorter than most county sheriffs in the state at this point, he was dead set on doing anything he set out to do and seeing it to the end. "He felt he could make a difference in the community," his nephew, Joseph Phillips, said. "If he said he was going to do it, he would do it."
Phillips was the first to announce his intent to run for sheriff following McAlister's retirement. He was followed by Cecil Bonds, Laure Roberson and W.A. Nobles. While running for office, Phillips laid out his plan to modernize the agency, including expanding it into Branford-O'Brien.
A year before he chose to run for sheriff, Phillips attended a months-long training at the National FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Va. There, he was exposed to modern technology, investigative techniques and a network of investigators and agency leaders, giving him an edge in his 11-year law enforcement career.
Ultimately, Phillips prevailed, winning the May primary election and clinching the sheriff position early. When he won, he continued to work at the SCSO, shadowing Sheriff McAlister and understanding the duties that the office came with.
From Dec. 2 to Dec. 4, 1968, Phillips went on to join other duly elected sheriffs at the Florida Sheriff's Academy. On Jan. 7, 1969, Buddy would take the oath of office, becoming Suwannee County Sheriff. He was just getting started.