Arthur Perkins

As many of you know, Arthur Perkins was the industrial arts teacher and baseball coach at Phillips High School from 1950 to 1962.

However, you may not know some interesting facts about his personal life or what he did after leaving Phillips.  Art was born on March 14, 1923 to Elizabeth (Jackson) and Arthur Perkins, Sr.  Art was only 13 when both his parents were tragically killed in a car accident, and he was then raised by loving foster parents, Frank and Mayme Drace.  He became a soldier in the United States Army where he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze star, the Good Conduct Medal, and various of medals for the theaters of war for which he fought.  He then moved to Phillips, began teaching, married Marion Hemmerich, moved to Merrill to teach for six more years, and then became active in dairy farming, which was an occupation he learned as a growing boy.  He also served two terms as assessor for the town of Merrill and was an active member of the American Legion from 1946 until the time of his death, serving in the offices of chaplain, adjutant, and commander.  He was also a member of the VFW, the DAV, and the Order of the Purple Heart.

Art loved baseball, as his coaching career with the Phillips Loggers proved.  He played baseball for the Phillips Merchants in the Wisconsin Valley League for ten years until the team disbanded.  He was an avid Cubs fan, enjoyed deer hunting and playing cards, and woodworking.  He made many beautiful cedar chests for his wife and toys for his children.

Unfortunately, Art Perkins passed away at the age of 87 in Merrill, Wisconsin, on Friday, June 4, 2010 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.