Barton Wayne "Bart" Phillips

Barton Wayne Phillips, 50, of San Mateo, California died June 2020. Bart, the son of Wayne and Bettye Phillips of Beaumont, was born on March 15, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a 1988 graduate of West Brook High school where he ran the 800 as a member of the cross-country team. He also enjoyed swimming competitively and scouting where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He was an avid life- long hiker and backpacker enjoying many hiking trips to national parks with his dad.

In 1992 he received a degree in chemistry from Texas A&M University where his interest in organic chemistry was kindled by classes under professor James Kelly. In the fall of 1992, he enrolled as a graduate student under a GAANN fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a year of coursework, he joined the laboratory of Professor Ralph Hirschmann and Professor Amos Smith, III where he completed a PhD in organic chemistry. Upon graduation he assumed a postdoctoral position at Oregon State University. He worked for twenty years in the pharmaceutical research field first with Bayer and later with Gilead Sciences.

Bart was a Senior Research Scientist with Gilead Sciences in Foster City, California, involved in life changing pharmaceutical research. His colleagues described him as dedicated, hard-working, passionate about chemistry and valued by his team members and the overall science community at Gilead.

Bart is survived by his parents, his sister Rebecca Phillips of Beaumont, his sister Bonnie Barksdale of Fort Worth, Texas and her husband Brad, nieces Bailey and Barrett Barksdale, and nephew Brady Barksdale.

A family ennichement was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Chemistry Department of Texas A&M University specifically to the Chemistry Road Show which introduces students across Texas to the wonders of chemistry and heightens their interest in science.