IMPACT Spring 2014

Noteworthy leader and civic activist (1954-2013)

PHIL MONTGOMERY WAS A TEXAN with wide-ranging passions, from public education to water resources to urban planning. Though Phil had many interests, some of his greatest achievements were in public education. Phil played an integral role with CFT for nearly 20 years, including serving as a trustee from 1994–2006. Notably, he personally led the negotiations with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the governor’s office for the original creation of the Texas High School Project (now Educate Texas). Because of Phil’s efforts, Educate Texas has opened or redesigned 240+ schools serving more than 140,000 Texas students.

Along with initiating Educate Texas, Phil helped start Uplift Education, a North Texas system of charter schools. He also renewed interest within Dallas’ philanthropic and business worlds for improving public schools across the region by championing the idea of collective impact, seen today through the great work of the Commit! Partnership. Phil was involved in the relocation of CFT to our current headquarters building and suggested the donation of the foundation’s former headquarters to become the Peak Preparatory campus for Uplift Education. We will miss his relentless belief in what could be accomplished for the good of the community through CFT. He was an extraordinary human being.