13 Facts About Phil Batt

Philip Eugene Batt was an American politician who served as the 29th Governor of Idaho from 1995 to 1999.

Phil Batt served sixteen months in the United States Army Air Forces during and after World War II at Lowry Field, Colorado, working as a clerk discharging veterans.

Phil Batt then returned to the University of Idaho and studied chemical engineering, lived in the dorms, and led a dance band, playing clarinet and tenor saxophone.

Phil Batt ran for governor in 1982 and was defeated in a close race by the Democratic incumbent, John Evans.

Phil Batt returned to the state senate with victories in 1984 and 1986, then resigned in the spring of 1988 to sit on the three-member state transportation board, appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus.

Phil Batt was elected chairman of the Idaho Republican Party in January 1991, and after a successful two years, he stepped aside in April 1993 to re-enter electoral politics in 1994.

Phil Batt had previously run for the post in 1968 and lost to Roland Wilber, 127 to 218.

Phil Batt, who has a gay grandson who lives out of state, supported Add The Words.

Boise has two memorials to Batt, with both acknowledging his work while in government: the Philip E Batt Building of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, which opened in October 2024, as well as the Philip E Batt Building of the Idaho Transportation Department, dedicated as such in June 2013.

On January 9,1948, in Potlatch, Idaho, Phil Batt eloped with Jacque Fallis of Spokane, a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Jacque Phil Batt died on September 7,2014, after 66 years of marriage.

In 2015, at age 88, Phil Batt married Francee Riley of Boise.

Phil Batt died on March 4,2023, the morning of his 96th birthday.