An Interview with Louie Phillips
by Jennifer Parker
When I drew Allan Phillips’ name from the membership list, I didn’t think I knew him. Turns out Allan is Louie Phillips, one of our dearly beloved singers and the MC of our talent shows. We sat with a cup of tea and chatted about his life.
What would you like to share with the community about your life?
“I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula and attended Northern Michigan University where I received an undergraduate degree with a major in biology and minor in chemistry.” Louie also received a secondary education certificate, so he relocated to Wisconsin in 1972 where he taught middle school for seven years. He also taught one year of high school at City School in Madison, which was an alternative education school.
Louie did graduate work at UW Madison in 1978-79. He met Brian shortly after in 1980. They have been together for forty-five years and were finally able to get married in 2014.
Brian and Louie both have backgrounds in theater. “I did a lot of community theater when I was teaching. Shortly after meeting, we landed jobs with a summer stock theater company in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Brian was the vocal coach and was in the pit, and I was onstage in the chorus. Coeur d’Alene is a beautiful spot, a big tourist area with a lot of California people coming up in the summer. We did a repertoire of four musicals. It was insane, but it was fun.”
After the summer, Louie and Brian made their way to Seattle. Boeing was the big deal at that time. This was before high tech took over. They landed jobs and lived there for a year. They came back to Madison in 1982 when Brian decided that he wanted to do graduate work at the UW.
“I needed a job. A friend who was a partner at a law firm offered me a messenger position. I eventually became a paralegal, trained by the firm. I was a paralegal for thirty-two years. I worked for two different Madison firms in the trusts, estates and probate practice areas. I retired ten years ago on Dec. 31st, 2015”.
What brought you to Unity?
“A close high school friend of mine started sending me Unity articles and booklets in the 1970’s because she thought I might be interested. In 1984, I started attending Unity of Madison in the little house on Winnequah Road. I was drawn to Unity because I was kind of tired of ‘traditional’ religion. I was raised Lutheran and there was a lot of baggage I wanted to unload, especially as a gay person. Shortly after I started attending, I asked Rev. Eunice Chagnon if we could talk. I told her I really liked what I was hearing here, but I need to know right up front if Unity of Madison would have a problem with me being gay. She responded, ‘God does not make mistakes.’ I was hooked.”
What are your favorite activities at Unity?
I’ve served on the board of trustees three different times, the first time when we were buying the new church. The third time was when Rev. Debra started. It is very enriching. It is a really good way to deepen one’s commitment to Unity principles.”
“I’ve served in many ways over the years: usher, music program, talent shows. I even did a stint with the youth ed program one summer. They were using the Harry Potter books. Little kids have a lot to teach us. They are very intuitive. I’m now chairing the special events committee.”
“We’ve been through a lot of ministers in my time here. I like to remind fellow congregants that ministers will come and go, but Unity of Madison is about the people. I look out and still see people I met in the 1980’s.”
“I love the music. I truly enjoyed Rev. Debra’s summer book series. I love being involved with the talent show. I like welcoming new people to our church.”
Is there anything you’d like to see Unity do that would make your experience even better?
“I’m so happy to see younger families joining Unity of Madison. We’re on the right track. Rev. Debra and Kate deserve a lot of credit for this.”