WDEF-TV General Manager Phillip “Phil” Cox has announced that he plans to retire December, 31st after a 54 year media career.
Cox has spent the last 17 years in Chattanooga with the CBS affiliated station owned by Morris Network-Morris Multimedia.
He joined the company in 2001 as General Manager of WXXV-TV, Biloxi-Gulfport, MS., and has served Morris in the same capacity at WWAY-TV, Wilmington, NC. in addition to his time at WDEF. He also worked previously as station manager for tv stations in Montgomery, Birmingham and Anniston-Gadsden, AL. His first job in media was in 1969 as a 17 year old high school student as a weekend radio announcer in his North Alabama hometown of Arab and he also worked in radio while in college in Tuscaloosa.
Cox has served as Chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, President of Alabama Broadcasters Association and as a board member for Mississippi Association or Broadcasters. He has been active in various community and civic groups in the areas where he has lived and worked. Cox is also currently a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences.
He and his wife of 50 plus years, Dean, plan to relocate to the Montgomery, AL. area to be closer to family.
WDEF is a subsidiary of Morris Multimedia, Inc., one of largest independently owned media companies in the country. Morris also owns WMGT-TV, Macon, GA., WXXV-TV, Biloxi-Gulfport, MS., WCBI-TV, Columbus-Tupelo, MS., WWAY-TV, Wilmington, NC., and WTVQ-TV, Lexington, KY.