It would be very easy to pin the All-American boy label on Powhatan High School senior Phillip Livesay. And it would probably stick.

At 6’3” and 261 pounds he has that big corn-fed mid-western look, American History is his favorite subject, a Saturday spent working around the house with his dad is cool and Mom’s lasagna is his favorite food.

He performs well in the classroom, is dedicated to his girlfriend, Kelly, and is middle-of-the-road in his music choices.

Phillip Livesay has been a solid, if not spectacular, offensive tackle on the Indians’ football team for three years and spends his springs putting the shot and throwing the discus on the track team and, even there, admits “I’m not superhuman. I can hold my own, but I’ve kind of reached a point where I’m not getting any better.”

While this may concern Livesay, it has no effect on his coach.

Ernie Henderson has been Livesay’s position coach on the football team as well as his track coach during his entire career at PHS.

“Philip is just a wonderful kid to have around,” said Henderson, and then gave what may be the ultimate compliment: “I tell my own son, if you grow up to be like him, I’ll be really proud. He really is a marvelous kid.”

What makes this soft-spoken, semi-giant “marvelous” may very well be his quiet focus and self awareness.

“Always give 110 percent and don’t be afraid to raise the bar,” he said. “Be an example. You never know who is watching.”

His focus on the future is crystal clear. “Next year I’ll be at Virginia Commonwealth University enrolled in their Business program. Five years from now I’ll be working for the Land Rover Corporation,” he said with quiet conviction.

He owns two Land Rovers, a 1993 Range Rover LWD and a 1996 Discovery. He is rebuilding the LWD after his sister fried it by ignoring an overheat. He holds no grudge but just goes about the rebuilding with his typical commitment.

Philip Livesay also has a creative side and it, like he, is also large.

He builds, literally from the ground up, scale model World War II battle scenes. The 1/35 scale dioramas may be as large as three by four feet.

Livesay uses bits of rock, concrete, wood and plastic to construct bombed-out buildings, street scenes and troop movements.

Once painted and arranged they are remarkable duplications.

“They really get my creative juices flowing,” Livesay revealed.

Those juices flow into another medium as well. With a penchant for recreating buildings, Livesay puts acrylics and water colors on canvas and paints prominent buildings such as the Capitol and the Rotunda at UVA.

“I guess I’m pretty good at it,” he said.

Very aware that his high school days are rapidly winding down, Livesay reflected on his time in Powhatan County.

“I came to a new school in Powhatan five years ago. The people and the Community have been great. It turned out to be a perfect fit for me.”

And it is the people he will miss the most, he stated.

Athletically, not playing football will cause the most regret. He considered going on to play in college but realized it would have to be at a Division II or III school.

“I’m just not that big for a college tackle,” he said and decided it was time to move on.

“I’d most like to be remembered as a hard worker,” he said. “And as a friend and example to everyone.”