The Lubbock Women’s Club Historical Foundation and The Ernestine Payne Welborn Endowment Community Speaker Series will welcome Bob Phillips as a speaker for the Annual Speaker Series. Phillips will speak on Monday, April 10, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at The Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway St., Lubbock, Texas.
For more than 40 years, the back roads of Texas have been home and office for Texas Country Reporter Bob Phillips. He was born in Dallas, but spent much of his youth growing up on the family farm near Lake Texoma. It was there that Bob lived with and learned from the folks he calls the “salt of the earth.” His “Texas Country Reporter” television series is a celebration of the Texas way of life and a tribute to the “real” heroes of our time — the everyday men and women who make our state such a special place.
Bob started his television career at KDFW-TV (Channel 4) in Dallas, Texas, while he was a student at SMU. He was a photographer and a reporter covering news, politics, where he covered several state and national political conventions and the inauguration of President Nixon, and even sports, where he spent several years traveling with the Dallas Cowboys and shooting for NFL Films. His “Country Reporter” series began at KDFW-TV in 1972 and continued on that station until Phillips moved his program to WFAA-TV in October of 1986 and syndicated the show statewide. Bob’s back roads travels have lasted 40+ years and “Texas Country Reporter” is now seen in all television markets in Texas.
Kandy Adams, President of the Lubbock Women’s Club said, “We are thrilled to welcome Bob Phillips to Lubbock. If you love Texas and the culture of food, family and travel, then join us for a fun evening at the Lubbock Women’s Club.”
Bob is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Broadcast-Film-Art (1973) and he received a Master of Liberal Artsdegree (1976). He has been honored with numerous awards for his work from AP, UPI, Dallas Press Club, Telly Awards, Texas Historical Commission, WorldFest International and the coveted television Emmy Awards. He is a member of the EMMY organization’s Silver Circle, an exclusive group of broadcast journalists who have given more than 25 years of service to their profession. He is a Professor at Amberton University where he has taught communications classes since 1988.
Bob divides his time between homes in Dallas and a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. He is married to Kelli Phillips who formerly anchored the evening news on the Beaumont, Texas, CBS affiliate. Kelli now works at Phillips Productions and is co-hosting “Texas Country Reporter” with Bob.
The Women’s Club was established in 1945 to promote, maintain, and support the common good and social welfare of the people of the Lubbock Community, and to bring about civil betterment and social improvements. The Lubbock Women’s Club Historical Foundation was established to preserve, protect and promote the historic and architectural character of the building at 2020 Broadway, and was organized for charitable and educational purposes. In 1979 the building was designated a historical landmark by the City of Lubbock.
In 2006 Ernestine Payne Welborn established upon her death a trust that provides funding to bring in notable speakers for the membership and the community. Speakers who have been part of The Ernestine Payne Welborn Endowment Community Speaker Series include Chef Stephan Pyles (2016), Hoda Kotb (2015), former Dallas Cowboys player Daryl Johnston (2015), Zach Thomas, former Texas Tech All-American and Miami Dolphins football player (2014), Jenna Bush Hager (2014), Joan Lunden (2013), Captain Chesley Sullenberger (2013), Heloise (2012), Former First Lady Barbara Bush (2011), William Shawcross, Official Biographer of the Queen Mother (2010), Former United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (2009), David Gaschen, star of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera (2009) and Carmen bin Laden, former sister-in-law of Osama bin Laden (2007).
(News release from the Lubbock Women’s Club)
