Phil Leland Hart

Phil Leland Hart, 66, of Grants Pass died June 17, 2011, at his home.A celebration of his life will be held July 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at River Vista in Reinhart Volunteer Park. Contributions may be made to the Four Way Community Foundation, P.O. Box 652, Grants Pass, OR 97526. He was born Nov. 27, 1944, in Oakridge, Tenn., to Clarence and Frances (Sands) Hart. He was raised in Kirkwood, Mo., and he attended Bradley University from 1962 to 1964. In 1965, he attended Syracuse University School of Language and studied Russian. He was honorably discharged after serving in the Air Force as a Russian linguist from 1965 to 1969. He then attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism Honor Society and earned his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1971. He attended graduate school and taught journalism classes at the University of Missouri.In 1973, he moved to Grants Pass from Columbia, Mo. That same year, he married Chris Klose. They later divorced. From 1973 to 1981, he was the director of community services and information for Rogue Community College. He was self-employed and owned Phil Hart Communications until 1983, when he became the creative partner in Hart and Harding Communication Associates.His volunteer work included coordinating the All-America City effort in 1986, designing the Grants Pass All-America City logo, and brochure design work for the Josephine County Library Foundation and Lovejoy Hospice. In 1976, he joined the Rotary Club and served as president in 1987. He was instrumental in the annual international student exchange river trip, and he co-wrote and edited the weekly Grants Pass Rotary "Cogs" bulletin. He also helped start the Rogue Gateway Rotary and served as the first executive director of the Four Way Community Foundation, a position he held for 20 years.He enjoyed creative design, hiking, the beauty of Oregon and the American Indian.Survivors include a sister, Mary Hart Reeves of Oklahoma City.