Robert Leon (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 25 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 around 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 front to report the story while the camera ran itself, a procedure that would come to be 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; the show aired in all 22 broadcast markets in Texas and eventually was added to stations in neighboring Louisiana. When RFD-TV launched in December 2000, Texas Country Reporter was one of its featured programs, introducing the show to audiences around the nation. Phillips was closely involved with the channel's development from the time he was approached about adding his show to the lineup, and through his company assisted with management of the fledging channel.[4]
As an extension of his 35 years of 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 teaches at Amberton University. In 2007, Bob married KFDM-TV anchor Kelli Adkins. They currently reside in Beaumont, Texas where Bob can be seen interviewing the locals.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b Bob Phillips: Profile for the Silver Circle, Lone Star Chapter, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ a b Terry Scott Bertling. "TV host whips up the waffles in his Hill Country Hacienda," MySA.com (joint site of the San Antonio Express-News and KENS-TV), June 18, 2006.
- ^ "Texas Country Reporter features SMU talent," SMU Forum Online (official faculty/staff newsletter), July 2001. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ a b Bob Phillips. "Texas Country Reporter" (memories of the show and his early career), RFD TV Online, no date. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ Phillips, Bob (2007-08-01). "2008 Roads of Texas Atlas blurb" (website). Mapsco. http://www.mapsco.com/detail.aspx?ID=2088. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
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