As you walk into the press box at AT&T Stadium in Arlington during a Dallas Cowboys or high school football state championship game, the first person you see is Phil Whitfield. As you leave the press box, the last person you see is Phil Whitfield.
Known to the Texas high school media as Uncle Phil, who was in charge of the press box at Jerry’s World, died on Wednesday. He was 62.
According to CBS News Texas, Whitfield was found unresponsive at his home and his cause of death was unknown.
Whitfield, who would have been 63 on Saturday, spent the past 30 years working with the Cowboys and AT&T Stadium. He started as a security guard and then became art ambassador when the stadium opened in 2009.
“I actually got the keys to Jerry World. We’re just going to have a little fun and that’s all this is all about,” Whitfield told CBS News Texas in January 2022.
Whitfield graduated from Dallas Roosevelt. He was working for the Cowboys when they won their last two Super Bowl titles in 1994 and 1996.
Uncle Phil was a great man and beloved by many in the media.
He cared greatly for this country and the national anthem. The PA announcer comes on and announces the anthem is coming up and the first thing you hear is Uncle Phil saying PLEASE STAND, WE WILL STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. He made sure the media stood for the anthem and took off their hat. As soon as the anthem ended, Uncle Phil says THANK YOU AND ENJOY THE GAME EVERYBODY
Gene Jones, the wife of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, said “The loss of Phil Whitfield leaves us all heartbroken. We have such wonderful memories with him, just as so many others do. Few people have generated such widespread goodwill and respect like Phil did over the years. He was an amazing ambassador for the Cowboys and a great friend and docent for our art program and the purpose of connecting with children and inspiring them to enjoy art. We will miss him greatly.”
My parents came to Texas in December 2017 and I took them into the press box during the Highland Park and Manvel title game. Phil made sure there was no cheering in the press box. Highland Park was coming back late in the game. After scoring a touchdown, HP got the ball back and my dad let out a loud OHHH. I looked at him and scolded him by text. After the game, I introduced my parents to Phil and he was wonderful to them. The next day I went back for more games and my mom gave me some Hawaiian treats to give Phil.
