Phillips

James E. Phillips

The passing of James Emerson Phillips, who succumbed at the Queen of Angels 
Hospital, Los Angeles, on the evening of October 26, brings to a close the 
career of one of the most outstanding engineers of the Bureau of Water 
Works and Supply, Department of Water and Power, of the City of Los Angeles.

Mr. Phillips was born in Russelville, IN, on July 8, 1883, the son of Eli 
Andrew and Evaline (Odell) Phillips.  From 1890 to 1898 he attended grade 
school in IN, attending Wabash College from 1898 to 1900 and Bloomingdale 
Academy from 1900 to 1902.  He then entered Rose Polytechnic Institute in 
1903 and obtained his education in civil engineering.

From 1905 to 1907 he was employed in engineering work for the 
C. &  E. I. R. R. and C. & N. W. R. R. respectively.  He entered private 
engineering practice in Rockville, IN, in 1908 and served as County 
Surveyor and Engineer for Parke County, IN during 1909 and 1910.  He again 
entered private engineering practice in Portland, OR, in 1911 and continued 
in such practice until coming to Los Angeles in 1912.

Mr. Phillips entered the service of Bureau of Water Works and Supply for the 
City of Los Angeles as a draftsman in June 1912, being about a year and a 
half prior to the completion of the Los Angeles aqueduct.  Due to his marked 
ability he advanced from the position of draftsman to that of chief draftsman 
in April 1919.

In 1924 Mr. Phillips advanced to the position of Assistant Civil Engineer 
having charge of all drafting work as well as field engineering.  As assistant 
engineer and later civil engineer, in 1928 he was placed in charge of 
maintenance and operation of the Los Angeles aqueduct and all its allied 
facilities, such as reservoirs, wells, ditches, creeks and canals, shops, 
garages, warehouses; maintenance construction of all operating and non-
operating buildings, Owens Valley town water and sewerage systems owned by the 
Department, gravel and pipe plants, all engineering and hydrographic 
activities including snow surveys; executive control of land and water right 
purchases, land leases and exchanges, and administrative control of the Owens 
Valley Light and Power System.  In this capacity Mr. Phillips occupied one of 
the major engineering positions of the Department.

He was a registered civil engineer in the State of California, a member of the 
American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the American Water Works 
Association, being an officer in said Association for a number of years having 
served as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman, respectively, of 
the California Section of this Association from 1934 through 1938.  He also 
belonged to Parke Lodge No. 8, F. &  A. M. , and to Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Due to Mr. Phillips' success in coping with the many problems involved in 
maintaining and operating one of the greatest aqueduct systems in the world, 
and his presentations in the world, and his presentations of some of them 
before gatherings of prominent waterworks men and civil engineers throughout 
the nation, he became nationally known as an engineer of ability.

During his career with the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, Department of 
Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles, he was held in high esteem by all 
his employees, his superiors and his associates.  

Mr. Phillips is survived by his widow, Lucy Anna Phillips, three sons, Dr. 
James Emerson, Jr., Robert C., and William F.  Services were conducted from 
the Westwood Community Methodist Church, Wilshire Blvd. And Warner Avenue, 
Los Angeles, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, and interment at Inglewood Park 
cemetery.

The active pallbearers were Darrell B. Cook, Burton S. Grant, Frank B. Krater, 
George A. Lewis, Emil S. Mamrelli and Paul E. Ritch.  The honorary pallbears 
were H. A. Van Norman, W. W. Hurlbut, J. B Lippincott, R. W. Lawton, A. L. 
Sonderegger, E. R. Bowman, L. M. Anderson, Thomas Brooks, J. R. Barker, R. W. 
Sparling, H. W. Jordan, R. W. Martindale, N. A. Bowers, W. W. Chegwidden and 
Donald Batman.


The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, October 31, 1940 - Front Page

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, July 17, 2004