On March 9th, Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC) will hold its annual Hall of Fame awards celebration, which honors notable alums. The College is pleased to recognize Phil Stillwell in the category of Distinguished Athlete.

Phil is a native of Phenix City who has experienced a phenomenal career. In 1974, Phil graduated from Glenwood School, where he was an outstanding student-athlete and member of the Glenwood baseball team. After graduation from high school, Phil attended Chattahoochee Valley Community College and played baseball under the leadership of Coach B. R. Johnson. Following his All-Conference and All-American career at CVCC, he had the opportunity to play Division One baseball at Louisiana-Lafayette in 1977 and 1978 while earning a degree in Business Administration.

Upon graduation from Louisiana-Lafayette, Stillwell began his career in the sporting goods industry as a manufacturer's sales representative for NIKE.

In 1986, Stillwell joined his brother, Neil, to start The Game, a headwear company that quickly became one of the most well-known brands in college athletics and professional sports organizations. During his time at The Game, he was instrumental in the growth of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association by becoming the official hat sponsor. Not seeking publicity, Stillwell and The Game's partnership with the ALABCA was formed out of a mutual passion for growing the game of baseball in Alabama. The Game donated 500 hats each year for the convention and another 300 - 400 hats for the ALABCA All-Star events, totaling over $100,000 in donations over the years.

Since leaving The Game in 2012, Stillwell has served as a volunteer assistant baseball coach at Glenwood High School under Head Coach Tim Fanning. Additionally, he has made multiple international mission trips through "More Than a Game" and "Serve to Lead" to share his faith and the game of baseball.

Stillwell remembers his time at CVCC fondly and credits Coach Johnson with teaching him lessons he has been able to apply to both professional and personal areas of his life.

“He was strict and very disciplined but taught me life lessons for which I’ve always been grateful,” Stillwell said. “He expected you to be on time, hustle, and work hard but would also go to great lengths to help you if you did your part. There were times in my career when I thought about that from a business standpoint and knew I had to get out there and do what needed to be done. Those lessons helped my business career and made me a better person.”

As a distinguished alumnus, Phil Stillwell serves as an inspiration to those who know him and to the community he has served. Today’s students can view him as a testament to the value of education, hard work, and servant leadership. CVCC is proud to call him one of our own.

The CVCC Hall of Fame awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their professions, their communities, and CVCC. These inductees embody the highest standards of excellence and are recognized by the Chattahoochee Valley Community College Foundation. This year, the College is pleased to honor the following distinguished individuals: In the category of Distinguished Athlete, Mr. Phil Stillwell, Ms. Leigh Ann Barbaree as Distinguished Alumni, and Ms. Peggy Martin in the category of Distinguished Service. The College’s annual awards banquet will be held on March 9, 2023, in the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.