“The Ballad of Wild Phil”
Words and music by Keith Burden
with Mr. Parson’s 5th Grade Class
©2018 Keith Burden
Like stepping stones out in the river of time
Good memories show me the way
Back through the years to my childhood home
Where my brothers and I used to play
Chorus:
In the wild (in the wild) In the wild (in the wild)
In the wild Black Hills of South Dakota
In the wild (in the wild) In the wild (in the wild)
In the wild Black Hills of South Dakota
I can see in my mind a much younger me
First facing the world on my own
That sailor was me . . . on the great restless sea
Making plans for my life back at home
Chorus
The years rolled along and I know where they’ve gone
For they brought me my family and friends
It’s work and respect that helps us connect
And leads us to that old rainbow’s end
Chorus
Phil Lampert was born June 5th 1945, he was the second oldest of five boys. Phil grew up in Custer and said his family was poor but he did not know any better growing up. His mother, who he considers to be his hero, taught him about hard work and respect from a young age. He would ride his horse to school, where his favorite subject was art and the hardest for him was math. Most of his fond memories from his childhood revolved around hiking and fishing.
From early-on, Phil was always thinking on the business side of things. His first job was cleaning the chicken house for $1 a month. He also worked at Rushmore cave as a tour guide in his early years. If he was not working Phil was running track in high school. After high school Phil intended to go to college, but to pay for it he had to have four separate jobs; Police Officer, wash dishes, shingling, and a salesman, but because he had to work those four jobs he didn’t have any time for classes so he had to drop out. Phil was drafted for the navy where he served in Vietnam.
Phil has been an entrepreneur all his life. Some of his business endeavors have flourished and some have flopped, but that is all part of the experience. Phil is most proud of his concessions business he ran in Custer State park for 28 years, and his little shop, Walk in the Woods. Phil has also been selling real estate for 40 years! Even today, Phil says that he does not know what he wants to be when he grows up. He has lived the ideals his mother instilled in him from when he was a boy. Phil also told us in regards to respect, “you have two ears and one mouth, use them in proportion.”
Phil has been involved in many things over the years, one experience he looks at as one of the best of his life was being invited to Washington D.C. to meet President G. W. Bush about immigration. Phil is also very proud of his family, he has 5 kids, 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. His favorite activities today include hiking, eating, visiting, and riding horses. Phil told us many times that living with respect and working hard are essential to life!