“He just did marvelously at that little paper in Virginia,” Phipps said. “We brought him back to teach here because of his experience. He knows what he’s talking about.” Gilbert also exemplifies what Phipps describes as his favorite type of student: those who arrived at college uncertain of their future but grew in confidence, skill, and direction over their years of study. “Jeff was one of those,” Phipps added. “A local boy, wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but took off in sports journalism. I loved watching those kinds of students develop. Derrick Green was one of those, too.” Green transferred to Cedarville as a communication major in January 1994. As a part of his role as department chair, Phipps met with all transfer students. “My parents had some reservations about leaving me at Cedarville,” Green explained. “But after we met Dr. Phipps, that all went away.” Phipps taught Green in multiple classes, including Theories of Mass Media, Persuasive Theory, and History of Public Address — “The only Phipps class I ever got a B in,” according to Green. Pat echoes the difficulty of History of Public Address. Once while studying in Cedarville’s Centennial Library, she overheard a table of students complaining about their assignments and required references for a course. When she spoke up and asked what class they were talking about, the group told her: Dr. Phipps’ History of Public Address. “I told them, ‘That does sound difficult. I’ll tell my husband when I get home,’” Pat said, chuckling. “You should’ve seen their faces.” But of all the classes Phipps taught, none stick out quite like Interpersonal Communication, especially to Green. “That class taught me what godly relationships with people are really about,” Green said. “I’d been having some difficulty with family, and Dr. Phipps told us one day: ‘If your relationships with other people aren’t right, your relationship with God isn’t right.’ That changed me.” Green holds onto that and the many other lessons that Phipps instilled in him. His newfound appreciation for meaningful and godly relationships blossomed into a desire to teach that led him back to Cedarville years later — along with several gently persuasive phone calls from Phipps. “My first year as a faculty member was Phipps’ last year as chair,” Green added. “I count it an honor and a privilege to almost literally sit in Dr. Phipps’ chair as chair of the department, and with every student, I just hope to impact them the way that Dr. Phipps impacted me.” ALWAYS BUILDING Much like how John Reed trained up Phipps — a young, passionate Cedarville graduate — to take over the department, so also did Phipps build up Green as a future leader for the Department of Communication. Chuck Elliot ’77 took over as department chair in 2003 after Phipps stepped down from the role, and Green took over as chair in 2014. But what does the great leader do when he passes the baton? What does the builder do when he’s no longer building? Well, for starters, Phipps’ retirement at the end of the 2019–2020 school year didn’t stop him from investing in the University and its surrounding community. If anything, it opened new doors for him. In retirement, Phipps has taken over as Grace Baptist’s vehicle manager, done yard work for himself and two widowed neighbors, served as chairman of the Cedarville Opera House, built custom golf club sets, and kept busy building and tinkering through his beloved odd jobs. When asked about the things he builds, Jim Phipps smiles before a word comes out of his mouth. “Oh yes, I build things often,” he chirps. “Woodworking, construction, bricklaying. I like working with vehicles and engines, plumbing and electric, roofing. My dad was a missions pastor, and whenever we moved to a new town, we’d draw those churches up and build them right there.” Green responds differently to the question. “He’s the best builder I know,” Green says. “Everything we have in the Department of Communication exists because he built the foundation for it.” Pat Phipps has something to add, too. “Oh yes, my husband is the best builder I know. He pours himself into whatever it is he's doing. I think seeing things grow is what kept him building all these years.” Heidie (Raine) Senseman ’23 is an English major at Cedarville University. Phipps’ retirement at the end of the 2019–2020 school year didn’t stop him from investing in the University and its surrounding community. Cedarville Magazine | 7
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