After serving in military intelligence in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged having reached the rank of sergeant in 1946.
During his years serving the people of Texas, it was not uncommon to see newspaper headlines like "Phillips makes lone stand against more spending."
Jimmy believed in spending money wisely and carefully, in the right place and at the right time, and had the reputation for being an ardent champion of the poor.
During his years in the Senate, the Houston Post once said of him: "He is a warm-hearted, even sentimental individual who has a sincere sympathy for the poor and unfortunate.
His eyes sometimes fill with tears when he talks about the need for more charity beds to treat children with cleft palates and twisted legs, and for years he has resisted fiercely any effort by the Legislature to raise college tuition."