Phil Claxton graduated with BA and BS degrees from Washington and Lee. He received two Bronze Star medals for his service in the 5^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam where he led a Mobile Strike Force reconnaissance unit. Next, he earned an MBA from Harvard and a JD from Georgetown.

Phil has more than 40 years of experience as a senior manager and entrepreneur. The last company he started and managed for almost 25 years, developed, manufactured, and placed more than 35,000 automatic blood pressure machines in pharmacies, worksites and health clubs around the world. They were used by more than 1,000,000 people a day in 30+ countries and saved thousands of lives every year.

He moved from Washington D.C. to Knoxville Tennessee to focus on restarting the Summer School of the South. His grandfather was the first Superintendent of the original Summer School founded in 1902, until he was appointed U. S. Commissioner of Education by President Taft in 1911.

The goal of the new Summer School will be to improve education in the South. Its ultimate objectives will include creating for southern employers a larger pool of workers who are good citizens with the skills needed by the employers and helping to raise the standard of living of everyone.

From 1904 Summer School of the South program

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.