(Druther's - Burger Queen Facebook photo)
When the 2023 Caldwell County football season kicks off this August, a familiar face in the crowd will be missing.
Tiger ‘Super Fan’ Philip Phelps died early Monday morning.
The family noted his passing on social media.
Phelps was a former owner of Druther’s Restaurants in Princeton and Marion.
He was a huge supporter of all local athletes, but Philip and his wife Pam are perhaps most well known for their incredible loyalty to the Tiger football team.
With Caldwell’s playoff loss to McLean County in November, the Phelpses had attended 423 straight Tiger football games.
That streak dates back some 37 years.
The Phelpses elected to skip the Tigers’ last game of the 1985 season — Caldwell’s 15-7 upset win at Mayfield in Al Giordano’s last game as head coach — to watch Crittenden County and head coach Pat Gates that night.
That Crittenden team would go on to win the Class A state championship in 1985. Gates, meanwhile, would take over from Giordano at Caldwell the following season.
The Phelpses never missed a Gates game at Caldwell, including the run to the state championship in 1998.
They were there every game in 2012 when David Barnes led to the Tigers to a state runner-up finish.
But the couple didn’t just follow football. It was common to see them at the CAB gym, at baseball and softball games, and even at middle school and youth events.
Philip Phelps was inducted into the Caldwell County Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
2 Responses
Phillip was one of my favorite franchisees. I started at Burger Queen corporate when BQ#50 on Breckinridge Lane opened. I seem to remember Princeton being #35. I transferred to Royal Equipment Co. and really got to know the corporate and franchise community in selling replacement equipment and smallwares. I’m so sorry for your loss Pam. Phillip was a wonderful individual. May he rest in peace🙏❤️
I met Phillip many years ago. He was always friendly and had positive words of encouragement for me. I was a trainer – store opener for Druthers. I opened Russellville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Flora Illinois and many others. Phillip would visit during my training.
I’m sorry for your loss God bless you and give you comfort.