The body of Olney implement dealer, Delbert V. Phillips, was discovered early this morning (June 1954) near his anchored boat on Dead River in the vicinity of Raeftown in Jasper County.  The body was discovered early this morning by a searching party which was formed after Mr. Phillips failed to return to his home here last night from a fishing trip to Dead River, which is a branch of the Embarrass River.  An inquest into the death of Mr. Phillips was postponed temporarily pending the results of an autopsy ordered by Jasper County Coroner, Earl DuFrain and the coroner's jury.

Members of his family initiated the search in view of the fact that he was alone on the trip and had planned to return late yesterday evening.  At 3:30 yesterday afternoon, Mr. Phillips was seen in the Raeftown store and again at 7:30 last night.  Dick King and Loren Berger of Olney saw him fishing alone along the river banks.

When discovered this morning, the body of Mr. Phillips is reported to have been lying in the water near his anchored boat in one of the deeper sections of the river known as Highpoint. Witnesses at the scene indicated that Mr. Phillip's reading glasses and his hat were lying on a seat in the boat and that his fishing tackle and equipment were neatly intact.

Another witness, when the body was discovered stated that the body bore a bruised spot near the base of the back side of his neck, reportedly prompting the autopsy decision by members of the coroner's jury. The body was removed to the Richland Memorial Hospital where an autopsy was begun late this morning by Dr. Lawrence Knox who estimated that the body of Mr. Phillips had lain in the water for approximately five hours or more and stated that extensive tests are now being made to determine the cause of death.

Mr. Phillips, the owner of the D.V. Phillips Implement Company in Olney, was one of this city's finest and most popular business men. Altho of a quiet, retiring nature, he was active in many civic tasks, never failing to do his part when called upon.

He is survived by his wife, Marie; one daughter, Barbara, who is a counselor at Camp Trude, Wisc.; two sons, Keith Phillips and Bernard Phillips of Olney; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Phillips of Sailor Springs; three sisters, Mrs. Irene Dane and Mrs. Maggie Ellen Tolliver of Louisville and Mrs. Vida Mae Brown of Ingraham; and three brothers, Lawrence and Arthur Phillips of Sailor Springs and Henry Phillips of Gary, Ind.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) ~ June 1954