December 18, 2009
Flags lowered to honor Maj. Gen. John Phipps
Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor and remembrance of Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John Randolph Phipps.
Flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset, Saturday, Dec. 19, in honor of Phipps, 90, who died Dec. 14, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon.
Phipps was named adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard in 1977 by then-Gov. James Thompson and promoted to major general. He spent 42 years in the military prior to his retirement in 1983, according to reports.
Phipps served in the military during World War II and the Korean War, remaining in the Guard after that. He was later promoted to colonel, brigadier general, and then assistant adjutant general of Illinois in 1970, when he returned to full-time duty.