Bob Phillips

Robert Leon Phillips, known as Bob Phillips (born June 23, 1951), is an American television journalist best known for his long-running program Texas Country Reporter. In 2005, Phillips was inducted into the Silver Circle of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the association that gives the Emmy Awards; the honor is extended to professionals who have spent at least twenty-five years of their career in television in Texas and have made significant contributions to their industry and their communities.^[1]

Phillips was born in Dallas, Texas, where he graduated in 1969 from Bryan Adams High School. He grew up in the hotel industry with a mother whose specialty was helping hotels to establish their housekeeping staff; in a 2006 interview, Phillips stated that his first paying job was assisting the executive chef at the Dallas Hilton Hotel, adding, "I found out real fast that washing dishes was not what I wanted to do."^[2] He attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1973 and a Master of Liberal Arts degree in 1977.^[3]

An admirer of CBS broadcast journalist Charles Kuralt, Phillips chose the same field. He began working at local CBS affiliate KDFW-TV as a gofer his first year in college, started learning to use a TV camera, and within three months was reassigned as a photographer. He got his break in March 1970 when he was sent to shoot film about a possible drowning, and no reporter was available to interview the youths involved, who had in fact survived; after preparing the equipment, Phillips stepped in forward to report the story while the camera ran itself, a procedure that would become his regular mode of operations.^[4]

Initially focusing on political and sports coverage, the novice reporter pursued his goal of filming feature stories for inclusion on local broadcasts. Instead, the management decided to package his features in a separate half-hour weekend program, and 4 Country Reporter debuted in 1972.^[1] In 1986 he left Channel 4, renamed the show Texas Country Reporter, and began producing and syndicating it through his own company, Phillips Productions; the show aired in all twenty-two broadcast markets in Texas including rival station WFAA, which renamed the show 8 Country Reporter, and eventually was added to stations in neighboring Louisiana.

During this time, Dairy Queen was one of the show's sponsors, which allowed Phillips to be the chain's spokesperson in its ads when promoting food items at its Texas-based restaurants. When RFD-TV launched in December 2000, Texas Country Reporter was one of its featured programs. RFD introduced the program to audiences around the nation. Phillips has been closely involved in the development of the fledgling channel since he was approached about adding his show to its lineup.^[4]

As an extension of his many years in broadcast journalism, Phillips has authored several books — mostly on Texas travel and cuisine — and serves periodically as a host at Escondida, the Texas Country Reporter Hacienda and Spa, in Central Texas' Hill Country region.^[2] He has been a professor of communications at Amberton University for more than 25 years. In 2007, Phillips married KFDM-TV anchor Kelli Adkins. They currently reside in Dallas.^[5]

Notes

1. 1 2 Bob Phillips: Profile for the Silver Circle Archived October 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Lone Star Chapter, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
2. 1 2 Terry Scott Bertling. "TV host whips up the waffles in his Hill Country Hacienda," Archived September 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. MySA.com (joint site of the San Antonio Express-News and KENS-TV), June 18, 2006.
3. ↑ "Texas Country Reporter features SMU talent," SMU Forum Online (official faculty/staff newsletter), July 2001. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
4. 1 2 Bob Phillips. "Texas Country Reporter" Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. (memories of the show and his early career), RFD TV Online, no date. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
5. ↑ Phillips, Bob (2007-08-01). "2008 Roads of Texas Atlas blurb" (website). Mapsco. Retrieved 2008-07-17.