Philip M. Sadler was born in Silver Point, Tennessee, in 1915, and grew up “dirt poor” one of nine children during the great depression. Mr. Sadler began his education in a one-room schoolhouse that included grades kindergarten through eight. He and his brothers were expected to handle chores on the land, but Mr. Sadler preferred to read and study. He admitted he would rather hide in the hay barn with a book. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (formerly known as the University of Dixie) in 1938, taught high school, and worked for the federal government.

His legal education was interrupted by military service in World War II. He was commissioned as a Naval officer in 1942 and served in the European and Asian Theaters. He was stationed on the minesweeper destroyer Macomb which came under attack during the invasion of Okinawa that claimed the lives of 14,000 American soldiers, one of the highest casualty rates in the Pacific campaign. On May 3, 1945, after downing one enemy kamikaze aircraft, a second suicide plane, a “Tony” carrying a 500-pound bomb came in fast and crashed into the Macomb’s aft. Amazingly, the bomb went through the ship and out the other side without exploding. Nevertheless, there were fatalities and many injuries, and Mr. Sadler was seriously burned. At that moment, Mr. Sadler prayed that if God would only let him survive the war, he would devote the rest of his life to His service. During his Naval service, he was awarded the Purple Heart for his role in the Battle of Okinawa, the Navy Unit Citation, and Battle Stars. He retired his commission with the rank of Lt. Commander after witnessing the formal surrender of the Japanese in Tokyo Bay.

After receiving his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1947, Mr. Sadler commenced his legal practice in Pulaski and had a long and distinguished career with the law firm of Gilmer, Sadler, Ingram, Sutherland & Hutton. He served as President of the Pulaski County Bar from 1965-1966. In December 1968 he was one of the attendees at the organizational meeting of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and later served on its Board of Directors. He was elected to the Virginia State Bar Council serving from 1971-1974, the State Bar’s Executive Committee serving from 1971-1973, and was elected President of the Virginia State Bar serving 1975-1976. He served on the National Conference of Bar Presidents from 1976-1978. He was a member of the Twenty-Seventh Judicial Bar Association and was elected a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers. Mr. Sadler was honored by the Virginia State Bar as the first recipient of its Tradition of Excellence Award.

As to the Virginia Law Foundation, after his first two years as a Founding Director (1974-1976), Mr. Sadler served as Vice President from 1976-1978, and as President in 1978. He then served for an additional three years as the Foundation transitioned from a Board comprised of all Virginia State Bar Council members to a Board with nominees from both the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association. He was elected as a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation in its inaugural Class of 1984.

He devoted much of his life to civic affairs. Mr. Sadler served as President of the Pulaski County Jaycees, President of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Pulaski County School Board and was a member of the Pulaski County Housing Authority and the Board of Directors of King College. He served as Chairman of the Pulaski County Democratic Committee and was recognized for his service to the New River Community Action Agency, Habitat for Humanity, the Daily Bread food bank, March of Dimes, Tuberculosis Association, the American Heart Association, and the Pulaski Free Clinic which he helped to organize.

True to his prayerful pledge, Mr. Sadler's life was marked by Christian service to others. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski. A newspaper editorial commended him for his help to the needy of Pulaski County. The editorial stated that he had been a distinguished citizen, an example of humility and service who in his public and private life demonstrated a deep and abiding feeling for those whose opportunities had been limited by circumstances and beyond their control. The editorial concluded, “He has more than outstanding ability; he has a sense of compassion. The two together give him his distinction.”

His former partner noted, “I never knew a more compassionate man who truly cared about his clients and the people of the community.” As a trial lawyer, Mr. Sadler often found himself in the role of advocate for the “underdog.” He routinely accepted cases pro bono, and was often paid with garden vegetables, a country ham, and one time with some guinea hens.

When Mr. Sadler relaxed, which was not often, he smoked Winston cigarettes and drank a coke with a pack of peanuts in it. He also drank Schlitz beer when he could not have his favorite liquors with ice and a little water.

A second newspaper tribute published before his death said that Mr. Sadler’s “long and dedicated military, professional and civic career is indeed notable, but his real distinction lies elsewhere. With all his honors and successes, Mr. Sadler is selfless, and his life's efforts have been dedicated to the service of others.”

Mr. Sadler died January 27, 1994 at the age of 78.