Veteran Talk Host Philips Announces Retirement from WTKS

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 12, 2018

Jim Philips

iHeartMedia Orlando announced the retirement of veteran talk host Jim Philips. The final live "The Philips Phile" will air from 3-7pm on November 20 on WTKS-FM (Real Radio 104.1). The station will also celebrate Philips retirement with a special "Phinal Philips Phile" tribute show on Wednesday, November 21 from 3-7pm. Philips has hosted "The Philips Phile" on WTKS for more than 30 years.

During his tenure with WTKS, Philips has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Central Florida charities including The Mustard Seed and A Gift For Teaching and has dedicated countless hours to causes including first-amendment issues, adult literacy, mentoring at-risk youth and championing LGBTQ rights. The University of Florida graduate has also received numerous awards and honors including the Debbie Simmons Community Excellence Award lifetime achievement honor and has been recognized as the "Best Radio Personality" more than a dozen times by readers of the Orlando Sentinel, the Watermark and the Orlando Weekly.

"It has been a great 50-year career and now it is time to move on with the next phase of my life," said Philips. "I can't thank the Orlando community enough for letting me into their homes, their cars and their offices for all this time."

"As a broadcaster, Jim Philips is unmatched not only in Orlando, but nationwide," added iHeartMedia Division President Linda Byrd. "He will be missed by his listeners and by his iHeart family. We are grateful that Jim chose to call iHeartMedia Orlando his radio home all these years and we wish him all the best in retirement. Now Jim, go do what you've always told your listeners - eat dessert first, grin like a dog, wander aimlessly, pound your conch as often as you can, buy your books with cash and eat some ants."

After Philips' retirement, "The Jim Colbert Show" will air on WTKS from 3-7pm beginning Monday, November 26.