Robert Howard Daniel (“Bob”) Phillips was born in Regina on December 3, 1921. He attended school there, including taking one year of classes at Regina College. In 1941, he joined the army and served during World War II, leaving in 1945 with the rank of Sergeant, RC Artillery. He completed his BA (Hons) degree, with a double major in Economics and Political Science, from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1948, he began a career as a journalist, working variously for the Canadian Press, the "Regina Leader Post", and the United Press; in Canada and Europe. In 1960, he joined the staff of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, becoming its first research analyst and subsequently, director of their Research Division. In 1973, he was named editor and publisher of the "Western Producer", as well as general manager of Western Producer Publications. He married Tanyss Bell in 1951; they had two sons. Phillips was active in the Presbyterian Church as well as with both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. He was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Regina (1988); was given the Citizen of the Century award from the City of Saskatoon (1989); named a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada; awarded the meritorious service award, Nutana branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (2000); was a Member of the Order of Canada; and named a life member of both the Canadian Agricultural Economics Association and of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. Following his retirement from the "Western Producer" in 1986, he was partner in Bell Phillips Communications Inc, a family-owned publishing company. He died in Saskatoon in 2006.

Tanyss Bell Phillips was born on January 1, 1926 in San Francisco, California and grew up on a farm near Chelan, Saskatchewan. She obtained several degrees including a BA (1946) and BA (HHon, 1947) at the University of Saskatchewan, MA (1948) at the University of Toronto, and an M.Litt (1951) from Girton College at the University of Cambridge. She was one of the earliest female economists in Canada and worked with the research department at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa (1947-1948), with the Saskatchewan Royal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Life (1952-1954), and was an instructor at the University of Regina from 1960-1973. She married R.H.D. Phillips in 1951. She also served many years as an elected alumni representative for Regina on the University of Saskatchewan Senate (1966-72). Later in life, Tanyss was a books editor in Saskatoon. She was also a board member of the Saskatoon Salvation Army. She was awarded the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award in 2004. Tanyss Phillips died June 10, 2016 in Saskatoon.