Over the last year, I’ve had the pleasure of working at The Oxford EAGLE, learning about the unique Oxford community and the people who are responsible for keeping it running.

I’ve also had the pleasure of working with Tim Phillips, a longtime Oxford resident and a special person to the community and its hometown newspaper.

As Tim prepares to begin a new chapter of his life next week, the EAGLE wishes him well during retirement.

Tim is unique in that he has worked in every department at the paper — from circulation to advertising to editorial. He can even run the press and did so many times when Head Pressman Eddie Lance was out or on vacation.

Throughout his roles at the paper, Tim has made lasting connections with the majority of those who call Oxford home.

From offering advertising solutions to local businesses to telling the stories of Oxford’s movers and shakers and delivering hometown news to 6,000 subscribers each day, Tim has certainly touched the lives of many in our small town.

He has also touched the lives of The Oxford EAGLE staff, who he often referred to as family. There isn’t much Tim would ask an employee to do that he wouldn’t, or hasn’t already, done himself. He’s always willing to lend a hand, whether that means helping answer phones on a busy day at the office or going to check on an employee who had a flat tire on the way home from work.

Tim’s kindness and care for others is something he likely learned from his dad, the late Jesse Phillips. Mr. Phillips ran the paper for a number of years and made a lasting impression on the town and the EAGLE staff. He was known, just like Tim, to lend a hand to whoever was in need.

Working and getting to know Tim and the Phillips family over the last year has been rewarding and fun. While it will be sad to say “goodbye” on Friday, I look forward to continuing our friendship and remembering his legacy at the EAGLE.

Catherine Boone is the audience director for The Oxford EAGLE. Contact her at catherine.boone@oxfordeagle.com.