The Bruce “Beep” Phillips Scholarship Endowment, established with the Grays Harbor College Foundation, honors Phillips’ memory as a dedicated commercial truck driver and proud member of the Grays Harbor community. This scholarship endowment was created in 2025 by Phillips’ mother, Katherine Diehm, in order to support aspiring CDL students in Phillips’ honor.
Phillips was a lifelong resident of Hoquiam, Washington. After his graduation from Hoquiam High School, Phillips spent five years in military service before returning to his hometown to begin his career as a commercial log truck driver for Byron Brothers Trucking. Following his time with Byron Brothers, Phillips drove for his stepfather’s company, Carlin Diehm Trucking, for 19 years, and then for RL Smith Logging until his death at the age of 65 in 2025.
Known as “Beep” by his large community of friends, Phillips loved to travel with the people he loved, go out fishing on his boat, and ride his motorcycle. Phillips was intentional and generous in sharing time with his friends, meeting up with them for breakfast on every morning that he was not scheduled to work.
We are deeply honored to steward this scholarship in Beep’s memory and to help carry forward the values he lived every day—hard work, loyalty, and a deep love for his community. Through this endowment, his legacy will continue to inspire and support the next generation of drivers who will keep the Harbor moving.
