Posted on 08/14/2003 8:18:16 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
AUBURN NY--I heard from my old friend, D.J. Fulton, who came to the Y-field reunion from Atlanta, Ga. D.J. firmly believes, and rightfully so, that Phil Kent, formerly of Auburn, is mostly certainly a legend of Auburn.
What about Phil Kent and why is he a legend?
Phil was born Nov. 24, 1951, to Wilbur T. and Helen Andrews Kent at Auburn Memorial Hospital. The Kent family lived on North Hoopes Avenue, and Phil recalled one of his favorite activities was ice skating in the winter at Hoopes Park.
Phil attended Herman Avenue School, and his favorite teacher at Herman was none other than John Whalen, who is a well-known author himself. He graduated in 1963 from Herman and then went on to East High School, where he graduated from in 1969. Phil fondly recalled his good friend, Jack Kirch, always cutting up and breaking up the class in the process.
Phil broke tradition by not going to East High's senior prom and instead went with a Mount Carmel girl, Ann Sliviak, to Mount Carmel's senior prom.
In the fall of 1969, he entered Auburn Community College and graduated two years later with an associate's degree in art. One of Phil's good friends at ACC was Capt. Chuck Augello, of the Auburn Police Department. Phil also spoke highly of Kathy Long, who was his faculty adviser. Phil was very active in student government and unsuccessfully ran for student body president in 1970 against Greg Abdo. Phil ran on the platform of calling for a military victory in Vietnam and taking a strong stand against the legalization of marijuana. Needless to say, that was not a popular thing to say the year after the Woodstock festival had unleashed the "If it feels good, do it" philosophy.
Phil's most memorable moment was standing around the flagpole with a group of supporters (including a burly Vietnam vet) and resisting an attempt by anti-Vietnam War demonstrators trying to take down the American flag.
Phil went on to graduate from ACC, and Kufs Tavern School of Higher Learning in 1971, where Phil said, "Professor Kufs taught me a lot about life!"
Phil got his first job during college with Carl Smith, at Smith Motors on State Street Road, and Phil said Carl would be the first to admit that Phil was not cut out to be a car salesman.
After ACC, Phil went on to the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in journalism.
Phil's family was a big part of the educational makeup of Auburn. His grandfather, Edward Everett Kent, established the Auburn Business School in 1890. It was located at 53 Genesee St. An old advertising ruler says that the school was "a reputable institution offering marketable education at low cost to high school and college graduates." Phil's dad, Wilbur Kent, later took over the school and ran it from 1948 until 1953. Wilbur had taught at the school since 1932. In 1953, he closed the school to become the head of the business department at the newly formed Auburn Community College.
Wilbur also was very active in the Cayuga County Boy Scout Council, as was Phil. Phil became an Eagle Scout at age 13 in Troop 11, and served as a summer Boy Scout counselor at Camp Rotary for several years in the mid-1960s.
Phil's mom, Helen Andrews Kent, was a beautiful lady who received her library science degree from Syracuse University, and she formed the Helen Kent Charm School from 1952 to 1967. Helen also served on the board of the Salvation Army and she and Phil's aunt, the late Evelyn Kent Paul, taught at the Auburn Business School and were both very active in the First United Methodist Church, where the Kent family were members.
Phil's only sister, Elaine Kent Johnson, graduated from East High School in 1956, from Auburn Community College in 1958 and from Potsdam in 1960, where she earned an elementary education degree. She currently resides in Hamburg with her husband, Don Johnson, and they have three children. Elaine taught 27 years, one of which was at Herman Avenue School in 1960-61.
Phil Kent married an Auburn native, Theresa Bratek (who graduated from Mount Carmel in 1970) and they had one son, Philip Jr., who now resides in Augusta, Ga. Theresa is now a school teacher in Aiken County, S.C., and Phil Jr. works for Knology, an Internet phone computer business. Phil and Theresa were married from 1972 until 1981, and Phil is currently married to the former Bonnie Lever, of Augusta, Ga.
D.J. Fulton said that Phil Kent, with his new book entitled "The Dark Side of Liberalism: Unchaining the Truth" is doing great and Phil probably appears on television more than any other Auburnian, with the exception of John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" fame.
Today, he is the president of Phil Kent Consulting Inc. Until June 30, he was president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a top conservative public interest law firm based in Atlanta. He served as press secretary to Sen. Strom Thurmond and appears regularly on the Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC and other radio and television programs. An award-winning journalist, his columns appear periodically in the Washington Times, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Wall Street Journal and other national publications.
Here is some of the praise that several noted political folks have heaped upon the former Auburnian.
"We are reminded that conservative values can carry the day, whether in the courts of law or the court of public opinion. 'The Dark Side of Liberalism' powerfully reveals the truth behind the beguiling facade of liberalism's world view." - Kenneth Starr, former independent counsel.
"Three cheers for the truth! 'The Dark Side of Liberalism' speaks the truth - facts over propaganda, permanent values over situational ethics - and does so by relating today's issue debates to the standards of the constitution." - Edwin Meese, former attorney general.
" 'The Dark Side of Liberalism' takes the fight to the enemy - and does so in a way that reminds many Americans that they agree with conservatives more often than not. That's the way and the strength of Phil Kent." - Pat Buchanan, former presidential candidate.
To Phil Kent and your family, thank you for being legends of Auburn.
I am a proud owner of The Dark Side of Liberalism with a very personal note from Phil on the inside front cover.
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