Phillip S. Harmon

Athletics

Philip S. Harmon was hired in 1957 as Manteca High's football coach.

Harmon, who received a bachelor of arts degree from Texas Tech in 1940 and master's from Eastern New Mexico University in 1955, served as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army Calvary from 1942 to 1945.

Harmon was football coach at Manteca High from 1957 to 1965 and 1968 to 1969. He compiled a record of 47 wins, 27 losses and one tie while leading the Buffaloes. Under his leadership, Manteca High earned two Valley Oak League championships. He served as athletic director at Manteca High in 1966 and 1967. He coached Manteca's Pop Warner football team, the Cowboys, from 1976 to 1978.

He was the coach of the winning team in the South Texas Valley All-Star Game in 1961 and was inducted into the San Joaquin Coaching Association's Hall of Fame in  1984. He was the grand marshal for the 1978 Manteca High homecoming game and had an athletic scholarship established in his honor in 1987 by a former football player. Harmon received the Masonic Lodge's Golden Veterans Award for 50 years of Masonic service in 1991.

Former colleagues, players, and non-athlete students have credited Harmon with instilling in them the value of teamwork, cooperation, fair play, scholarship, dedication, obedience, and respect.