Dr. Ralph W. Phillips: in memoriam

Dr. Ralph W. Phillips: in memoriam Dental Materials colleagues have lost an eminent scientist, a considerate teacher, a world-renowned spokesperson, and a loyal friend. Dr. Ralph Phillips was all of this and more to the dental profession. The void left by his death will be felt for years to come. The greatest loss is not for those of us who knew him but for our future dental materials colleagues, who will not have the privilege of being acquainted with this distinguished gentleman. Everyone knows the depth and breadth of Dr. Phillips' scientific work. This legacy has been recorded in the dental literature, and future generations will know the greatness of his accomplishments. However, a record of the deeds from a career of over 50 years does not adequately reflect a man like Dr. Phillips. It was his integrity, his commitment to dental materials, his kind generosity, and his caring humor that made him a truly outstanding individual, and it is these traits that we should try to impart to the next generation of dental materials colleagues. Perhaps if we all try to emulate some of his attributes, the emptiness left by his passing will not be as great. Dr. Phillips earned the respect of his colleagues through his pioneering research into the correlation of laboratory tests with clinical performance. He was a leader in research which considered biocompatibility issues, in promoting the anticariogenic nature of fluorides, and in the investigation of adhesive dental materials. In addition to the vast numbers of clinicians and scientists who trained under Dr. Phillips' guidance, he had a pronounced effect on Dental Materials education by providing the field with current textbooks on Dental Materials Science. The ninth edition of The Science of Dental Materials was published in March, 1991. Unselfishly, Dr. Phillips lectured to groups of any size and level of sophistication. When he spoke, he made Dental Materials interesting and his talks clinically relevant. To most clinicians, the names Dental Materials and Ralph Phillips were synonymous. It is estimated that he appeared on over 1,000 programs worldwide, and, despite his hectic schedule, he never failed to write and thank his colleagues for the invitation to speak. His dedication to the field of Dental Materials was recognized with countless awards. Dr. Phillips was deserving of these honors for many reasons, including his strong support of and active participation in numerous dental organizations. He was a key figure in gaining support forDental Materials Research and was an eloquent advocate for the field. The Academy of Dental Materials is proud to claim him as one of our fellows, and our members are deeply saddened by his parting. Victoria Marker

216

Franklin Young