Phil Dessauer

Phil Dessauer served on the Tulsa City-County Library Commission for 25 years, from 1969 to 1993. He was a newspaper editor for most of those years. He began as a reporter for the Daily Oklahoman in 1945, then went to United Press for seven years. In 1954, he became a state capital correspondent for the Tulsa World, advancing to editorial writer in 1960, then to associate editor and managing editor in 1970. He taught journalism classes at the University of Tulsa from 1981 to 1988, and was advisor for its student newspaper The Collegian.

Phil was generous with his time and expertise, and asked all the right questions about library issues through the years. He was an advocate, not only for Tulsa libraries, but on a wider scale. He was included in the American Library Association’s first group of national Advocates recognized in 2000.

Phil traveled with the Oklahoma contingent each year on national legislative day in Washington, DC, and he opened many doors which otherwise may have been closed. He had a quick wit, and was a guiding force of the Tulsa Press Club’s Gridiron every year, which roasted Oklahoma leaders, mostly politicians. He was friends with most of those people, and welcomed opportunities to speak on behalf of library issues and needs and was responsible for many supportive editorials on behalf of libraries in Tulsa and in the state. Phil died in 1997.