For Troy University students studying mathematics, mathematics education or a STEM field, the Bobby Ross and Butch Phillips “Trojan Pride” Endowed Scholarship offers more than financial support. It carries forward a family’s longstanding belief in the power of a TROY education.

Established in 2016, the scholarship was created in honor of Bobby Ross Phillips, Sr. and Barbara “Butch” Newsom Phillips by their son and daughter-in-law, Bobby Ross Phillips, Jr. and Susan Phillips.

Bobby Ross Phillips Sr. came to the University on a football scholarship at a time when his family could not afford to send him to college. He often said the scholarship was the reason he was able to attend college, and by his senior year he was a captain of the football team.

He continued to return to TROY throughout his life, bringing his family with him for football games and Homecoming. His son, the late Bobby Ross Phillips Jr., grew up knowing TROY would eventually become part of his own story.

“His dad loved TROY till the day he died and really credited TROY for the life he was able to give his family because he got a college education,” said Susan Phillips, Ross’ wife of 38 years. “He always said that was the only way he was going to college was if he got a scholarship, and he did. Ross always said he knew since he was 9 years old, that’s where he was going to go to college.”

Ross followed his father’s footsteps and enrolled at TROY, developing a connection to the University that lasted throughout his life. He studied mathematics and computer science and was later inducted into the Shield Society as a Distinguished Alumni, while his father was named Alumni of the Year.

After his parents passed away, Susan said Ross wanted to honor them in a way that reflected what TROY had given their family and established the scholarship in their names.

“‘Butch and Bobby Phillips Trojan Pride’ because he had so much Trojan pride. Bobby loved TROY, and Ross carried on that tradition,” she said. “Ross loved TROY as much as his daddy did.”

The scholarship provides support to students who have successfully completed at least two semesters at TROY, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrate involvement beyond the classroom through extracurricular activities and leadership. Preference is given to students from Adel, Georgia, and Cook County, followed by residents of Berrien, Colquitt, Lowndes and Tift counties.

Recipients are also expected to be enthusiastic ambassadors of TROY, like Bobby and Ross, and is intended for a student studying math, math education or a STEM field, like Bobby and Ross—but also as an homage to Ross’ mentor, Dr. Jim O’Neal, a longtime math instructor at TROY who passed in 2021.

“Ross loved him, just loved him,” Susan said. “We stayed with Jim a couple of times when we’d come to TROY and always visited with him while we were there.”

Ross and Susan met on a Windjammer sailboat cruise in the West Indies. She’d recently moved to Austin, Texas for her career after earning her master’s degree in computer science, and Ross was living in Birmingham, Alabama, working for BellSouth and preparing to begin graduate school at UAB.

The pair began a long-distance relationship for two years and did not live in the same state until they were married. 

“I think our parents were probably a little worried about that,” she laughed. “We raised our children in Austin, and he had a really wonderful, very successful career.”

In Austin, Ross earned a master’s degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science from Texas State University. He joined the staff at the Lower Colorado River Authority, moving through the ranks of programmer, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of LCRA Transmission Services Corporation then Deputy and Interim General Manager of LCRA.

Their children, Michael, Andrew and Laura—along with their partners, Victoria, Katie and Trey, and a granddaughter, Vivianne—all continue to reside in Austin.

Throughout their lives together, TROY remained an important part of Ross’ identity. Some of his closest friendships began during his time at the University, including his lifelong friendship with Scott Denman. Scott’s brother, Lance, was also with Ross on the trip where he and Susan met.

After Ross passed earlier this year, Susan wanted to ensure the scholarship he established would continue beyond his lifetime. Donations from friends and family helped provide the push to the endowment level.

“I was really hoping that we would get more donations when Ross passed away and I could endow it,” Susan said. “And that’s what happened. It’ll go on forever now in their memory. That’s all of their legacy—they just wanted people to get an education.”

To apply for the Bobby Ross and Butch Phillips “Trojan Pride” Endowed Scholarship, visit Troy.AwardSpring. Applications for Fall 2027 close on March 1, 2027.