Phil Dixon

Phil Dixon’s path to KCKCC was not a traditional one. A 1974 graduate of Wyandotte High School, Dixon originally decided to forgo a full scholarship to Bishop College, a HBCU in Dallas, Texas, to stay in Kansas City with his rock band Threatening Weather. He started taking classes at KCKCC, but left after one semester to go on the road, knowing that if circumstances changed, he could always return to the community college. Things ultimately did not work out with the band and by 1976, Dixon was back at KCKCC taking day, evening and summer classes to graduate. He had no idea what he wanted to do, but knew he could do more with his life by being in school and furthering his education.

“I had a part-time job at the time working at Sears in the Tower Plaza and playing music on the side. I thought about going to KU and playing in their band, but I lacked the confidence to make the transition and went out looking for a full-time job,” he said.

That full-time job was a member of the management team for Duckwall/Alco in Colorado Springs. He worked at stores throughout the region and continued playing music. It was in 1980 where he developed another passion – the Negro Baseball Leagues, which he began researching in depth. He was instrumental in the current revival of interest in not only the league, but the legendary Kansas City Monarchs. He is currently a Negro Leagues Baseball author, speaker and historian appearing on numerous television and radio programs throughout the country. He has interviewed more than 500 Negro Leagues players, family members and those affiliated with its history and now serves on the National Advisory Board for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

But Dixon will never forget his ties to KCKCC and what he learned on his way to earning his degree. His wife is also a 1982 graduate of KCKCC and his son, Phillip A. Dixon, is an adjunct professor.

“It was at KCKCC that I develop my true understanding of the importance of education,” he said. “When I first arrived, I was bit behind on my reading and English comprehension. I was advised to take a non-credit class in the lab to improve, which I did. As time passed, I visited the library every day and checked out books and other periodicals. I read books and listened to recordings of record artists and speakers on recorded albums that I had never known. It was during this time that I also wrote my first history paper and conducted interviews for a project on Western University. My first speech class was also as a student at KCKCC. Today I speak publicly all over the country, but it was at KCKCC that I got my first experience speaking before groups. Some students, for whatever reason, may not be as focused in high school. Coming to a community college is a way to help you get on track.”