CHOCTAW — Chief Phillip Martin was a powerful chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaws serving as tribal chief for 28 years. The Choctaws honored him last month with the reopening of Phillip M’s restaurant in the Silver Star Hotel & Casino at Pearl River Resort.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening, recently elected Chief Phyllis Anderson, a longtime admirer of Martin, said she had made the decision to change the name of the restaurant back to Phillip M’s, the original name that dates back to its opening in 1994.
“It was the right thing to do for our tribal members and it is a wise business decision,” said Anderson. To a crowd of more than 30 media members and dozens of guests, she said the name change recognizes the works of Martin and, “the name should remain the same permanently from here forward.”
She added, “Chief Martin left a long and enduring legacy and that’s what today is about…our Choctaw people.”
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Chief Phyllis Anderson, second from the left, honors the late Chief Phillp Martin at the reopening of Phillip M’s at Pearl River Resort. She presented a portrait of Chief Martin to members of the Martin family. |
Anderson recalled July 4, 1994, when the tribe, under Martin, opened the Silver Star Hotel & Casino with Phillip M’s as its flagship restaurant. “That day was a milestone achievement for our tribe that set our path once and for all toward true Choctaw self-destination.”
Since its opening, the restaurant was known throughout the South for its excellent chefs and staff, comfortable-but-classy atmosphere and first-class cuisine. Phillip M’s always featured a celebrated wine cellar known by wine aficionados as one of the best in the state. The new décor of the room reflects the original restaurant, as Martin knew it. With the reopening comes the reintroduction of several menu items that were popular not only with the late chief, a frequent visitor, but also with guests from all over the country.
In an interview some years ago, a magazine reporter asked Martin how often he dined at the restaurant. Martin told the reporter, ”Every chance I get… at least a couple times a week. …that’s what it’s all about… Good food and good games.”
During the ceremony, Martin’s family was introduced and honored with a special portrait of him.
