Former Baylor Regent James N. Phenix Sr. Dies
Henderson attorney James N. Phenix Sr., a former secretary of the Baylor University Board of Regents, died today in Tyler. He was 72.
A member and former chairman of Baylor's Development Council, Phenix served as a regent of the university from 1988 to 1997. Phenix also was an ex-director and life member of the Baylor Alumni Association. He earned a bachelor of arts degree and a law degree from Baylor in 1951 and was a member of the Baylor tennis team.
"Baylor has lost a loyal alumnus who was exceedingly generous in his service to the university," said Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. "He was a tremendous inspiration to those who worked with him to advance Baylor's mission, and he will be sorely missed by regents, administrators, faculty and students alike. The entire Baylor community extends its deepest sympathies to the Phenix family in this time of loss."
Born in Paris, Texas, Phenix was a deacon, Sunday School teacher and chairman of the board of trustees at First Baptist Church in Henderson. 6His wife, Corneil, as well as two of their four children, are Baylor graduates.