M. Penn Phillips
Encyclopedia
M. Penn Phillips, born Marion Phillips, (13 June 1887, Parsons, Kansas
– 24 May 1979, Sierra Madre, California
) was an American
entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer. He founded the M. Penn Phillips Company which, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the Western states
from the 1920s through the 1970s. His development projects focused on building new communities, including Hesperia
and Salton City
in California
and Christmas Valley
in Oregon
.
In 1923 he opened the new subdivision of Clear Lake Highlands near Clear Lake, California which, in 1980, became part of newly incorporated Clearlake
.
In 1955, he was president of Hesperia Land Development and Hesperia Sales Corporation, while conceiving the U-Finish Home, mass-produced housing units which were completely finished on the outside leaving the buyer to complete the interior.
In 1956, he was an alternate delegate from California to the Republican National Convention
.
Finally, Salton City, a community on the west shore of the Salton Sea
was mapped out by the M. Penn Phillips Company in 1958.
He was a benefactor to Claremont McKenna College
for whom Phillips Hall was named in 1966.
Parsons, Kansas
Parsons is a city in the northern part of Labette County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,500...
– 24 May 1979, Sierra Madre, California
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur and prominent real estate developer. He founded the M. Penn Phillips Company which, as a subsidiary of Holly Development Corporation, operated in the Western states
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
from the 1920s through the 1970s. His development projects focused on building new communities, including Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
and Salton City
Salton City, California
Salton City is a census-designated place in Imperial County, California. The population was 3,763 at the 2010 census, up from 978 at the 2000 census. It is the largest Imperial County development on the Salton coast. It is part of the El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Christmas Valley
Christmas Valley, Oregon
Christmas Valley is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The community was named after nearby dry Christmas Lake, east of the present townsite and the site of the former Lake post office, which ran from 1906 until 1943. Real estate development around a planned...
in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
In 1923 he opened the new subdivision of Clear Lake Highlands near Clear Lake, California which, in 1980, became part of newly incorporated Clearlake
Clearlake, California
Clearlake is a city located in Lake County, California. Clearlake is located north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1417 feet...
.
In 1955, he was president of Hesperia Land Development and Hesperia Sales Corporation, while conceiving the U-Finish Home, mass-produced housing units which were completely finished on the outside leaving the buyer to complete the interior.
In 1956, he was an alternate delegate from California to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
Finally, Salton City, a community on the west shore of the Salton Sea
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea is a shallow, saline, endorheic rift lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault, predominantly in California's Imperial Valley. The lake occupies the lowest elevations of the Salton Sink in the Colorado Desert of Imperial and Riverside counties in Southern California. Like Death...
was mapped out by the M. Penn Phillips Company in 1958.
He was a benefactor to Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
for whom Phillips Hall was named in 1966.