Lewis H. Phillips*

Lewis Phillips was reared by his immigrant grandparents on a farm in upstate New York. He walked more than a mile to his one-room schoolhouse and carried his shoes to make them last longer. Before and after school, he performed farm chores and assisted his father in making deliveries.

When his father's business failed, Phillips helped out by delivering newspapers. In 1936, financial difficulties at home forced him to quit school. He got a job as counter clerk at Nedick's, earning $18 a week at 30 cents an hour. His industry, intelligence, and ability were soon recognized, and he got regular promotions.

Phillips interrupted his career for four years to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1945, he won a citation for "outstanding performance of military duty." He returned to Nedick's and, by the end of his career, was president of the Nedick's chain of 86 stores in seven states.