This is the last compilation of records from Granddad's personnel file and contains the years 1939 thru 1947. Other than efficiency reports from his last 10 years of work, all with ratings exceeding average, little is included through what I would call the "War Years". There are still 26 documents being looked at for release that had classifications marks. Maybe those will fill in some of the sparse years.
I was thrilled to receive these records as I had only a few years memory of him. His profession was not the most popular to a majority of Americans but it was necessary at a time when a major criminal element was attempting to take control of not only major cities but also rural areas as explained in an article, The Antecedents of Organized Criminality in Kentucky - Dr. Gary W. Potter - Eastern Kentucky University. This article could well be substituted for Tennessee.
It is my hope to complete an on-line book on the life of Granddad Joseph Phillips. Both his father and grandfather served in the Union Army, which in my opinion, has importance in him choosing a career within the Federal Government. So until then I hope this information finds its way to some who may find it interesting and helpful in understanding the time known as Prohibition.
Granddad Phillips left what was considered a tidy sum when he died in 1959. He and my father, who had partnered with him on his Texas land sold it several years before he died. In his Will he left each of the minor grandchildren enough to be put in a trust towards a college education to pay for a good part of that. Something he knew would benefit them in their career, as it would have him should he have had more than a "Common School" education.
Sadly all that was gone by the time the family got through a lengthy battle over the Will. I have all that in another file, too.
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