Beyond the Hills: The Journey of Waite Phillips

This is the story of Waite Phillips, brother of Frank Phillips who started Phillips Petroleum. His life was the most interesting of anyone I have read about so far. This man really lived life to the fullest and seemed to enjoy it more then others. He was a great business man who said he never had a mortgage on any property that he ever owned even though he owned at one time around 700,000 acres of land and had millions invested in commercial properties and 7 homes. The book goes through his childhood and his traveling adventures as a young man to working for his brothers in the oil business and then venturing out on his own starting his own oil company. Later on in life he moved into Real Estate and seemed to make money at everything he did. He was also a great philanthropist who gave away his prized New Mexico ranch to the Boy Scouts and along with that an office building in Tulsa to provide income for it's upkeep. One of his epigrams was "The only things we really keep are those we give away." The book has 39 chapters and is only 375 pages long. It has many pictures of family and some of the buildings that he owned. It also contains exerts from Waite's diary and many of his own epigrams which are very insightful and gives you a real perspective of who Waite was. It is the story that makes this book so great. Anyone I believe can appreciate the way Waite lived his life and will walk away with maybe a renewed perspective on life.

This book is well written and informative. If you like biographys, this is a good choice.

This book is about the journey of life of a very special man. A man who had vision at all times, through failure and dedication to live a supreme life.His struggles to succeed are well told, and by his ultimate success, he would become a wealthy man. A man with the sense of good who would later will his fortune of land to the Boy Scouts of America.

This is a fascinating story of Waite Phillips and his dreams of living a cowboy life out west, his bond with twin brother Wiatt, and his life as an oilman, wildcatter and millionare. Most importantly, it is the story of a man with the wisdom to understand that "A man keeps nothing unless he gives it away". His gifts to the Boy Scouts of America, hospitals, universities, and the city of Tulsa stand as a testiment to his wisdom and love of people. I recommend this book more often than any other. It should be required reading for all.

And I will admit, my interest in opening the book was being there when Mr.Wallis and "Chope" Phillips did their book signing at Philmont Scout Ranch, BSA's mecca for Scouting. I thought I would be bored by the sections related to Waite and his twin brother Wiatt and their adventures prior to the time Waite became the benefactor of the property we call Philmont. Instead I found myself interested in the details and events of their lives, of Wiatt's death, and the personal insights into the Phillips family. Anyone with any interest in the west, in Scouting, in the history of the development of the oil fields, or in the giving of a man who truly felt "The only things we keep forever are those we give away" would be glad they read this book.To the thousands who visit Philmont every year, for training, for a wilderness experience, or to serve on staff, this book should give you the information and attitude you need to truly appreciate the experience.And you'll realize you should be kind to any old "cowboy" you meet in the backcountry -- it could be Chope.