Retired Yuma physician Dr. William "Bill" Phillips knew he wanted to be a doctor since age 4.

After Phillips' neighbor returned home from World War I with lip cancer, Phillips said that's when he knew.

"I decided I would like to help," he said.

It's that caring nature that helped Phillips earn the President's Distinguished Service Award from the Arizona Medical Association.

"I'm honored, of course," Phillips said.

Phillips practiced medicine in Yuma for more than 50 years. Retired, he's now 96 years old and told the Yuma Sun how he became a doctor.

In school, Phillips said, he prepared himself to study medicine. He said he created his curriculum around it and took Latin to help him get in to medical school.

"I had a schedule always."

Phillips graduated from high school in 1931. He said his family couldn't afford to send him to college, so he got a job. He worked for a year and saved a dollar a day until he had enough to get him to college.

He attended what is now Penn State, and he took a job waiting tables so he could eat and pay $12 a month for his room.

Phillips went on to study at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York.

He practiced medicine in Yuma and played a significant role in the development of Parkview Baptist Hospital, which was replaced by Yuma Regional Medical Center.

Phillips' association with the Arizona Medical Association spans more than 67 years. His colleagues recognized him at the annual meeting this month.

"I treated people like I would want to be treated, and I guess they appreciate it."

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.