Phillip P. Contreras, born in Turkey, TX but raised in Brownwood since his early childhood years, will receive a Special Tribute of Appreciation for his decades of community service. For over 50 years, he has been involved in volunteer efforts intended to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in need, strengthen the Hispanic community by helping others find work, and to just make Brownwood a better place to live.

In addition to being well known for his kindness, compassion, friendly nature, and giving spirit, Contreras is perhaps best known for his indefatigable work ethic. To him, fulltime meant all day. When he worked the 7am shift at 3M, that meant lining up more work to do after 3pm like ranching or shearing sheep. Working the 3pm shift meant lining up work to do in the morning, like laying concrete. When he found extra work that he couldn’t do alone, he would recruit people who needed work. Throughout his adult life, Contreras has always looked for ways to help others.

His most recent community service projects were embedding family memorial plaques in concrete at Wiggins Park at the base of 39 memorial trees donated to the park by family members of the Strategic Alliance for Leadership and Social Action (SALSA) and again at the base of 24 memorial trees donated to the First Mexican Baptist Church.

Busy as he has always been since his youth, Contreras made time for baseball as a player and a coach, and even now at 78 years of age, still entering in car shows around Central Texas the classic 1950 Chevrolet he bought from his grandfather over 50 years ago.

Contreras will be honored at a private dinner for him, his family, invited friends, and members of SALSA. The dinner will be held Saturday, December 3, at the First Mexican Baptist Church, 1600 Melwood Avenue.

Phillip and Rachel Contreras have four children – Chris, Cynthia, Phillip Jr., and Elizabeth.