A speech teacher planted the idea of broadcasting in Phil’s mind when he was a junior in high school. He decided to study broadcast news at the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, graduating in 1974.
His first job out of college was as sports director for WRFC radio in Athens, Georgia. At the time it was the flagship station for University of Georgia football and basketball.
In 1976 the LaFayette, Georgia native was hired as a sports anchor for WRBL-TV in Columbus. He would spend six years on the sports desk before leaving television to pursue other interests, among them starting a corporate video production company which he operated for 25 years.
In 1998 Phil returned to broadcasting and to WRBL, but this time as a news anchor. He and his co-anchor, Teresa Whitaker, have been on the anchor desk together longer than any other duo in Columbus broadcasting history.
Phil and his wife Judy have three grown children who all live in the Columbus area. That means all eight of their grandchildren are close by for spoiling.
