Phil started caving in 1974 while in high school with his brother\u2019s college outdoors club. Barton\u2019s was his first cave and Bear was the second. Phil then became President of The Penn State McKeesport Outdoors Club 1977-78.<\/p>\n
After moving from South Western Pennsylvania and the knowledge of a half dozen caves or so, he continued to visit these caves for the next decade and a half. Then one day while visiting Punxsutawney on Ground Hog Day, he met a group of cavers who let him know there is a much larger community of cavers than he had any idea existed.<\/p>\n
Phil subsequently became an NSS member and started attending regional meets. Phil\u2019s participation with MAKC has been cave property clean-ups, cave surveying, cave gating, gate removal, fund raising, manning MAKC booth, and participation in MAKC meetings. Phil has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State.<\/p>\n
While he was re-elected to the MAKC Board for an additional three-year term in 2021, Phil decided to step down as vice chairman to allow some new blood to serve as an officer. Along with long-time secretary Carl Pierce, Phil has been one of the longest-serving officers and board members of MAKC.<\/p>\n