Phillips was born on November 24, 1925 in Coles County, Ill. In 1987, Paul and his wife, Sue, purchased a stud named Hoist The Yankee from Continental Farms. Paul’s endeavor into the breeding business has earned him ranking in the top-10 for Illinois-bred 2:00 trotters and Illinois-bred $100,000-winning trotters. In fact, Hoist The Yankee has produced 142 starters who have accumulated earnings in excess of $2.5 million.

In 1995, Paul had the outstanding home-bred Sea Wind Yankee, who was coincidentally from the pacing-bred mare Romanita, and Sea Wind Yankee was named the champion juvenile trotting colt in Illinois that year. His winning time of 1:57⁴ at Springfield, Ill. earned him the honor of being the fastest 2-year-old colt trotter in the state of Illinois. As a three year old, Paul’s success with Sea Wind Yankee included victories in the Darn Safe at Du Quoin, Ill. in 1:56¹ and a second place finish in the 3-year-old colt trot final at the Illinois State Fair, by a nose, in 1:55¹.

Paul and his family have experienced many days of racing thrills with such noted horses as Spinning Son, MX Missile, Spring Street, Investment Fund, Prairie Wind, Miss Prairie Mist, Yankee Casanova, Yankee Bill, Yankee Pardner, Savannah Leigh, Roxies Flight, Noble Sir, and Scot T Yankee.

Most recently, Paul and his wife have enjoyed success with their pacing-bred trotting filly Anita Wind, who this summer won the Lady Lincoln Land Consolation and the Sarah Myers for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Paul is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sue, and his three daughters, Paula Huddlestun, Shari Banks (Craig), and Donna Viviani (Vinnie). He had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.