Distinguished Alumni
John Phelps
Awarded 2017
Following his graduation from SHSU with a degree in agriculture in 1956, John Phelps served his country in the U.S. Navy before coming home and teaching school in Channelview and Pasadena.
In 1962, he joined State Farm Insurance as an agent and opened his office in the one-car garage of his Pasadena home and went on to grow his business into one of the largest agencies in the country. Through the years, he was a mentor to up-and-coming professionals in the insurance industry and local aspiring business men and women.
Always working for the betterment of his community, Phelps was a Pasadena city councilman and mayor pro-tem, as well as president of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, president of the YMCA and chairman of the Southeast Economic Development Association. His service to his hometown earned him recognition through such honors as Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Optimist Citizen of the Year, the Paul Harris Rotarian of the Year, Pasadena Businessman of the Year, and Pasadena ISD Distinguished Citizen of the Year.
In 2007, Harris County Commissioners honored Phelps by naming a courthouse annex in his honor.
John Phelps passed away on May 27, 2017.
Phelps and his wife Wynell, who was his high school sweetheart and wife of 63 years, are the parents of two sons, Steve and Ken. John was a Life Member of the SHSU Alumni Association.