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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEncouraged by a high school teacher, Newman approached Mrs. Ross Dyer, a choir member and wife of Tennessee State Supreme Court Justice Ross Dyer. Her connections led to Senator Bill Baker nominating Newman and securing his spot in the Naval Academy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never even met the guy. I had never talked to him. But I got to go to the Naval Academy because I sang.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the Naval Academy, Newman\u2019s path was set. Despite an initial fear of boats, he gravitated toward the Marine Corps, attracted to its clear-cut values and disciplined lifestyle. His 30-year career in the Marine Corps came with significant achievements, including commanding three units \u2014 a rare accomplishment. Newman led a school for enlisted Marines, an officer training school, and a logistics squadron responsible for maintaining 180 helicopters and 900 Marines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newman\u2019s service inevitably had its challenges. One of his most notable deployments was in response to the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami. As the logistics officer, he coordinated the delivery of essential supplies and medical aid, revealing the practical impact of military training in real-world crises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While excelling in his military career, his passion for music continued. During his four-year assignment in Japan, he participated in an international choir that united American, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Newman retired in November 2006, he was only 52. He found new ways to serve, leveraging his extensive education in math and engineering. Teaching at Dyersburg State Community College was his new calling. Newman found a natural fit to guide young students, gleaning from his military experience. He frequently intertwined values like hard work and continuous learning into his teachings, which resonated with his students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told them, \u2018Everything you do in life is a test. So don\u2019t worry about tests. Always do your best. Work your hardest. If you don\u2019t make it, that\u2019s fine, but your goal is always to be the best you can, whatever that means for you,\u2019\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Music remains an important part of Newman\u2019s life. His church and community connections in Athens, Georgia, where he once commanded a supply school, led to a pivotal moment in his life. An invitation to join a prestigious choir introduced him to classical music. Fast forward to 2023, when he received an invitation from the same choir conductor to perform at Carnegie Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Preparing for the performance was not a small task. Newman dedicated over a year to rigorous practice, which led to a breathtaking rendition of Mozart\u2019s Requiem. This performance also required him to learn Latin. Performing at Carnegie Hall was a massive undertaking yet a remarkable milestone in his life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hadn\u2019t sung it in 26 years. After 100 hours of practice, I almost had it memorized,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Newman\u2019s love for music continues here in Tullahoma. He promotes Southern gospel music, organizes concerts, and shares his passion for singing with his church and community. As a substitute teacher, he inspires a new generation with stories from his military career and performances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Newman\u2019s philosophy on life and career is to find what you love, work hard, and continually educate yourself. One of his favorite hymns is \u201cIt Is Well with My Soul,\u201d a powerful message of faith during hardship. The song speaks to Newman\u2019s own story of embracing life\u2019s unpredictable adventures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all his accomplishments, Newman\u2019s wife, Deborah, a former Navy Corpsman, and three children are among his favorites. All of his children have degrees and are positively contributing to their communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From commanding troops in Southeast Asia to delivering a mesmerizing Mozart\u2019s Requiem, Newman\u2019s adventurous escapades inspire us to live bravely with a melody in our hearts and to embrace the opportunities that come our way. GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COL. PHILLIP Newman wasn\u2019t looking for a prestigious singing career when he joined the Marine Corps. Joining the service during the Vietnam era, he saw the Naval Academy as a path to both education and military service. What he didn\u2019t expect was that his love of music, developed in his church choir, would lead him […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":22956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/09\/1-7-1024x683.png\")
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