Bob Phillips, born on June 23, 1951, is a renowned American television journalist, best known for his long-running program Texas Country Reporter. He was inducted into the Silver Circle of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2005, recognizing his significant contributions to the industry and community.
Phillips grew up in Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Bryan Adams High School in 1969. He developed an interest in the hotel industry, following in his mother's footsteps, who specialized in establishing housekeeping staff for hotels. His first paying job was assisting the executive chef at the Dallas Hilton Hotel, where he quickly discovered that washing dishes was not his calling.
Phillips attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1973 and a Master of Liberal Arts degree in 1977. He was inspired by CBS broadcast journalist Charles Kuralt and chose to pursue a career in journalism. He began working at local CBS affiliate KDFW as a gofer during his first year in college, learning to operate a TV camera and eventually becoming a photographer.
Phillips' big break came in March 1970 when he was sent to shoot a film about a possible drowning, and no reporter was available to interview the survivors. He stepped in front of the camera to report the story, a technique that would become his signature style. Initially focusing on political and sports coverage, Phillips pursued his goal of creating feature stories for local broadcasts.
In 1972, his features were packaged into a separate half-hour weekend program, 4 Country Reporter, which debuted on Channel 4. Phillips left Channel 4 in 1986 and renamed the show Texas Country Reporter, producing and syndicating it through his own company, Phillips Productions. The show aired in all 22 broadcast markets in Texas, including rival station WFAA, and eventually expanded to neighboring Louisiana.
When RFD-TV launched in December 2000, Texas Country Reporter was one of its featured programs, introducing the show to a national audience. Phillips was closely involved with the channel's development and assisted with its management. As an extension of his 35-year broadcast journalism career, Phillips has authored several books on Texas travel and cuisine and serves as a host at the Texas Country Reporter Hacienda and Spa.
Phillips teaches at Amberton University and has been married to KFDM-TV anchor Kelli Adkins since 2007. They reside in Beaumont, Texas, and also have homes in Dallas and Medina, Texas.
