What is it that has caused attention to specifically be focused on the phil w. morris company at this time? Of particular significance, this prominent firm has been in business for 40 years, which is a long time anywhere – but in Sedona, which didn’t have an official name until 1902 and wasn’t incorporated until 1988, two decades after this company started doing business, it is a very long time. As the story goes, Phil’s uncle and aunt, George and Sally Black, purchased a ranch house, constructed in the early 1900’s by T.C. Schnebly and his wife, Sedona, this community’s namesake. After the Blacks had obtained the Schnebly home in 1916, it burned down in 1918 and two years later, George and Sally constructed the charming stone house that today is the historic hallmark of Los Abrigados Resort. In 1927, Phil’s father, Marion, who had directed the construction of major projects for an internationally involved corporation, came to Sedona to “retire,” but he also worked for the Blacks. Some years later, he built homes in the area that is now Village of Oakcreek.

Phil and his father eventually acquired the Schnebly-Black Ranch, where Phil built a home for himself, which paved the way for this accomplished builder becoming not only a celebrated, longtime resident, but also dean of this area’s construction industry with seniority to spare. Additionally, he has done this with great pride and honest humility, attributes that have contributed to his reputation as an expert extremely proven builder – to the extent that some years ago the phil w. morris company received statewide recognition as one of Arizona’s 100 largest, privately held companies.

With regard to the historical perspective of this company’s presence in Sedona, it is surprising to note that only a decade before Phil started business in 1967, people who traveled between Phoenix and Sedona did so via Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome and Cottonwood – and the entire 135-mile alignment of Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff wasn’t opened until 1978, a decade-plus after Phil organized his company. Other notable occasions that effectively date the 1967 debut of the phil w. morris company include the start of a weekly newspaper, Red Rock News, in 1963; formation of Cowboy Artists of America at Oak Creek Tavern – today, Cowboy Club – in 1965; the arrival of Elvis Presley to film “Stay Away Joe” and a development company’s creation of Village of Oakcreek, both in 1967; and the establishment of Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, as well as Garland’s Oak Creek Lodge, in the ‘70’s. the phil w. morris company received statewide recognition as one of Arizona’s 100 largest, privately held companies.

Clearly, Phil Morris, himself, currently exists as a historical object; still, it should completely be understood that he is not starting to sing his swan song. More specifically, however, he might be warming up and getting in tune for a future performance – and how fortuitous it is that similar to an award-winning Broadway production, a well-trained performer with contemporary training is ready to emerge from the wings of the Sedona stage. And not surprisingly, perhaps, his name also is Morris – specifically, he is Phil’s son, Mark, a third-generation builder who is trained to apply the increasingly high degree of professionalism utilized in today’s construction techniques.

Make no mistake however, Phil is not retiring; instead, the phil w. morris company will benefit from the synergism created by the recently introduced combination of his tried-and-true talents with the contemporary techniques introduced by Mark, who will assume management responsibilities in 2008. Both men agree that today’s homeowners have desires that are quite different than 40 years ago – “back when the red-rock formations and vortexes were created,” they joked. “Our company provides vital technical information via digital photos and Internet communication, as well as charts and accounting records created as buildings come out of the ground – and it doesn’t matter if the owner is in New Jersey, Minnesota, Texas or Sedona,” reported Mark. “Very importantly, throughout the history of our company, my dad has had the advantage of a degree in construction engineering from Arizona State University. Now, since my return to Sedona from Seattle, the company also has benefited from my background in technology.”

Mark knows that he was lucky to be a kid in Sedona, where he caught trout in Oak Creek in the morning and shot tin cans off fence posts in the afternoon. More than that, he realizes how fortunate he is to have worked for a company identified with “an incredible name” when he was young – and more importantly during recent years, to learn so much from a father who possessed and applied a knack for critical attention to detail. “It will be an honor to step into his shoes when the time comes,” explained Mark.

As for Phil, who boldly states that the phil w. morris company is not for everybody, “because we choose not to be,” he is emphatic when saying that he does not intend to immediately retire upon celebrating 40 years in the home-building business. “I’ve been in this business for 40 years, and it’s OK with me if it’s another 40 years. He explained, though it is apparent that he is looking forward to what actually will be somewhat of an enhanced role.
“I will support Mark in every possible manner without getting in the way,” said Phil. “Honestly, I look forward to more of a one-on-one role with isolated projects – more of a consulting responsibility as it relates to being kind of a super superintendent, perhaps.”

There’s something else, too: People who know Phil best understand that he absolutely loves to build his own homes. Fact is, he would drive a fortune-teller crazy because it is well-known that no one could accurately foretell when he will build the next new residence for himself and his wife, Pamela, who is an extremely talented interior designer. Indeed, Phil and Pamela continuously search for something new – an unknown site, a creative design, a revolutionary technique, a surprising concept – and they repeatedly create and dispose of personal residences with the verve of San Diego surfers. Phil has been doing this for 40 years, so it isn’t expected that he will stop when he has a little more time.

The contention is supported by the fact that despite being involved with considerable commercial construction in the Phoenix/Scottsdale and Sedona areas – including The Clubhouse at Desert Highlands, Dale Anderson’s Restaurant, Los Abrigados Resort, Sedona Medical Center, Hillside Sedona, The Inn on Oak Creek and El Rojo Grandé Ranch plus an acclaimed residential development, The Cottages at Coffeepot, and a long list of Sedona’s most impressive homes – Phil has created numerous personal residences.

Among these private homes are a uniquely charming, relatively small home between Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village and Los Abrigados Resort; a picturesque country home on Oak Creek in the Pages Springs area; a contemporary, two-story ranch residence on Oak Creek in a historic Sedona residential area; and a luxurious barn-style home on Oak Creek, just off of Upper Red Rock Loop Road. Also, Phil and Pamela currently are constructing a beautiful, casually inviting home that hangs on the edge of spectacular Eagle Mountain in the vicinity of Red Rock State Park. Now, as the Morris families celebrate the 40-year history of Phil’s company – probably in conjunction with his 70th birthday this summer – and Mark assumes control sometime next year, there is interesting speculation regarding how much the phil w. morris company will change. Probably, it won’t be very much.

It appears that little change is anticipated because this legendary firm has enjoyed exceptional success for a very long time – and the old maxim, “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke,” seems quite appropriate.

Just as with the Energizer Bunny, some batteries never wear out – not even after 40 years!