Phil Lewis

Inducted 2011

Phil Lewis was born in Minneapolis on June 11, 1921. After graduating from West High School, he attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a standout football star playing for Bernie Bierman, the legendary Gopher coach. On September 1, 1942, Phil married Vivian Ryan and left the next day to join the U.S. Army Corps for service in World War II. After being discharged with honors and the rank of staff sergeant, Phil returned home to Minneapolis. In 1948, he became a local sales representative for WCCO Radio. Three years later he became the General Sales Manager, with Larry Haeg as General Manager. Due to this harmonious team, the next 17 years would be one of the strongest and most successful single periods at WCCO Radio. The Good Neighbor station led the Twin Cities market in every measured quality possible: audience numbers and shares, sales revenue, public service awards and more. In 1969, Phil became General Manager, a capacity in which he continued his exemplary leadership for another 14 years, ending his career as Vice President of Midwest Radio WCCO.

Phil passed away on May 25, 2007.