Background
Phillippi was born on July 4, 1918 in Zionsville, Indiana, United States; the son of Jesse F. Phillippi and Bernice (Brock) Phillippi.
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States
Phillippi received a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1940.
Phillippi was born on July 4, 1918 in Zionsville, Indiana, United States; the son of Jesse F. Phillippi and Bernice (Brock) Phillippi.
Phillippi received a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in 1940.
Phillippi served with the 36th Infrantry Division in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany from 1941 to 1945. He began his career as a copy editor of Indianapolis News in 1940. Six years later Wendell took a position of a state editor of the same newspaper. In 1947, he was appointed a city editor of Indianapolis News. Then in 1952, he became an assistant managing editor of that newspaper. In 1962, Phillippi held a position of a managing editor of Indianapolis News, where he worked until 1984. During 1950s he served in the Army Reserve, becoming Commanding General of the 38th Division Indiana National Guard, with a two-star rank.
Phillippi also helped edit books for The Columbian Club ("If Tables Could Talk"), the American Legion, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Phillippi was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, National Guard Association of the United States, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, American Society of News Editors, American Legion, Indiana University Alumni Association, Economic Club of Indiana, Indianapolis Columbia Club, Blue Key, Sigma Nu and Sigma Delta Chi.
He was president of the national Associated Press Managing Editors and served on numerous committees for the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Wendell was a founding Board member of the Indianapolis Urban League.
Phillippi, in 1951, formulated a plan for the north-south one-way streets in Indianapolis, which was approved by the administration of then Mayor Phillip Bayt. In 1955, he organized the campaign to save the Indianapolis Indians baseball club.
On January 10, 1942 Wendell Phillippi married Georgiana Pittman. They have two children. On October 30, 1980 he married Barbara Caniff Howden. They have six children and 13 grandchildren.