Bob phillips texas country reporter biography
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He has authored several cookbooks and travel themed books, including the Texas Country Reporter Cookbook and 52 Offbeat Texas Stops series.
read lessBob Phillips Age
How old is Bob?
Phillips is72 years old as of 2023.
He was the only member of his immediate family born in the city, as his parents had relocated from rural Grayson County; his father, born in December 1917, had grown up on a farm before becoming a service station owner on University Drive after losing his left arm in a traffic accident, while his mother worked various jobs, including as an executive housekeeper at the Holiday Inn Central.
His memoir A Good Long Drive: Fifty Years of Texas Country Reporter, published in 2021 by the University of Texas Press, chronicles the history of the television show he created and hosted, recounting his journey from early broadcasting days to logging over three million miles on Texas backroads.[31][1] The book blends behind-the-scenes insights with anecdotes from encounters with ordinary Texans, emphasizing themes of resilience and regional identity.[31]In 1993, Phillips released 52 Offbeat Texas Stops: Traveling With Bob Phillips, Texas Country Reporter, a travel guide published by Phillips Productions that highlights quirky roadside attractions and small-town landmarks discovered during his on-air explorations.[32] He followed this with 52 More Offbeat Texas Stops: Traveling With Bob Phillips, Texas Country Reporter in 1997, also published by Phillips Productions.[33] In 2000, he published Texas Country Reporter: Stories from the Backroads through Globe Pequot Press, compiling narratives from his travels.[34] These volumes serve as companions to his television segments, offering practical itineraries infused with storytelling to encourage readers to experience Texas's offbeat charm.[32]Beyond books, Phillips has contributed travel columns to Texas Monthly magazine, sharing reflections on Texas locales and cultural vignettes drawn from his decades of fieldwork.[15] These writings, often rooted in the personal stories from his three million miles of travel, underscore his commitment to documenting the everyday extraordinary in Texas life.[15][1]
Personal life
Marriage to Kelli Phillips
Bob Phillips met Kelli Adkins, a fellow broadcaster, while both were working at KFDM-TV in Beaumont, Texas, and the couple married in 2007.[35]Kelli Phillips, née Adkins, built a career in media beginning in her teens, appearing in commercials and print advertisements across Texas and the South starting at age 14.As of 2025, the program continues under the name Own the Road with Kelli and Bob, distributed nationally via radio and podcast platforms.[25][26] Phillips described the pivot as a natural evolution, emphasizing their ongoing passion for sharing authentic stories at age 73.[27]
Other professional endeavors
Teaching at Amberton University
In 1987, Bob Phillips joined Amberton University as an adjunct professor teaching communications courses.[7] His courses focus on communications, encompassing topics such as the influence of ratings on broadcasting decisions and media production processes.[28] Phillips holds a B.F.A.A few years later, Bob Phillips ventured on his own to continue this television concept through his in-house production company, Phillips Productions. In 1986, he left Channel 4, remained on the show Texas Country Reporter, and began producing and syndicating it through his own company, Philips Productions. This collaboration dramatically broadened its audience, making the show available in over 60 million U.S.
households via RFD-TV's cable and satellite distribution. In addition, he celebrates his birthday on June 23rd every year.
Bob Phillips Wife
Bob wedded KFDM-TV anchor Kelli Lee Phillips. Rather, the administration chose to bundle his highlights in a different half-hour end of the week program, and 4 Country Reporter appeared in 1972.
In 1986, he left Channel 4, renamed the show Texas Country Reporter, and started delivering and syndicating it through his own organization, Phillips Productions; the show disclosed in each of the 22 communicate showcases in Texas, including rival station WFAA, which renamed the show 8 Country Reporter, and in the long run, was added to stations in neighboring Louisiana.
Bob Phillips Books
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.
Bob Phillips FAQs
Who is Bob Phillips?
Bob Phillips is one of America’s best-known and loved journalists.
How old is Bob Phillips?
Bob is 68 years old as of 2019.
He was born Robert Leon Phillipson June 23, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, the United States of America. However, his exact net worth has not yet been revealed but the information will be updated as soon as it is available.
Bob Phillips Journalist
He started working at local CBS affiliate KDFW-TV as a dispatcher his first year in school, began figuring out how to utilize a TV camera, and inside a quarter of a year was reassigned as a picture taker.
He got his break in March 1970 when he was sent to shoot a film about a possible drowning incident, and no correspondent was accessible to meet the young people included, who had in certainty made due.
Phillips stepped before the camera to report the story while the camera ran itself, a strategy ordinarily referred to in communicating as “a small-time band” that turned into his ordinary method of tasks.
The couple has a farm in Medina, Texas. She later joined him as co-host of Texas Country Reporter in September 2015. and M.L.A. He grew up in the hospitality industry where his mother specialized in helping hotels to establish their housekeeping staff. He got his break in March 1970 when he was sent to shoot a film about a possible drowning, and no reporter was available to interview the youths involved, who had survived.
newscast.[36]In September 2015, Kelli Phillips transitioned from her anchoring role at KFDM to join Bob as co-host of Texas Country Reporter, debuting on the weekend of September 12–13 and bringing her journalism experience to the show's storytelling format.[35]As a married couple, Bob and Kelli Phillips' joint on-air appearances—traveling Texas backroads together to profile local communities and individuals—have enhanced the program's warm, family-oriented tone, emphasizing relatable human stories and personal connections.[37]
Family and residence
Bob Phillips and his wife, Kelli, have kept much of their family life private; Kelli has two sons from a previous marriage.[7]The couple has long resided in Dallas, Texas, where Phillips was born and raised, maintaining their home base in the city throughout his decades-long broadcasting career.[12][2]Despite the demands of extensive travel—Phillips estimates logging over three million miles across Texas backroads for Texas Country Reporter—their lifestyle remained anchored in the Dallas community, allowing them to balance professional commitments with local roots.[2]Following their retirement from hosting the show in 2024, Phillips and Kelli have settled more fully into life in Dallas, where they continue storytelling through a new national radio program broadcast from the city.[38][39]Awards and recognition
Induction into the Silver Circle
In 2005, Bob Phillips was inducted into the Silver Circle of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), recognizing his longstanding impact on television broadcasting.[40][41]The Silver Circle honors media professionals who have provided distinguished service to the televisionindustry for 25 years or more, with a focus on significant contributions to their local chapter and the broader field.[42] By the time of his induction, Phillips had exceeded this threshold, having launched Texas Country Reporter in 1972—a program that had already become a staple of Texasmedia, airing weekly stories about rural life, community events, and ordinary people across the state.[40] This longevity directly underscored the award, as the show's 33 years on air by 2005 exemplified Phillips' sustained dedication to authentic, regionally focused storytelling.[9]The induction occurred during the Lone Star Emmy Awards ceremony in November 2005, where Phillips was celebrated alongside other broadcasting veterans for their career achievements.[41] In reflecting on his work, Phillips has described Texas Country Reporter as a "celebration of Texas life" that honors "everyday heroes" encountered on the state's back roads, viewing the Silver Circle honor as a validation of this mission to connect viewers with the heart of Texas culture.[9]Broader honors and legacy
Bob Phillips has received numerous accolades for his contributions to journalism and broadcasting beyond his induction into the Silver Circle.However, Bob has not disclosed the names of his family members including his father, mother, and siblings.
Bob Phillips Education
Phillips attended and graduated from Byan Adams High School. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Amberton University since 1987 and teaches communications courses.
Bob Phillips Career
Phillips started his journalism career at local CBS affiliate KDFW-TV as a dispatcher during his first year in college.
He was born on July 23rd, 1951
How tall is Bob Pillips?
the information about his estimated height is not available.
Is Bob Phillips married?
Bob is married to his lovely wife, Kelli Phillips.
How much is Bob Phillips worth?
Bob has an accomplished journalist with an estimated net worth that is still under review.
How much does Bob Phillips make?
Bob’s annual salary is estimated to be between $74,360 and $109,276.
These features were included by the station as part of the “4 Country Reporter” program.
Since 1972 Bob Phillips has ventured the backroads and recounted to the stories of real Texans – ordinary people doing extraordinary things. However, they have not disclosed whether they have any children together.
Bob Phillips Family
Phillips was born and raised in Dallas, Texas.