DaytonDailyNews.com

Bob "Scoop" Phillips, who at age 75 was the longest working active news photographer in Ohio, and perhaps in the industry, is retiring as chief photographer at WDTN-TV, Channel 2 News.

Phillips, with Channel 2 for 51 years, said the decision was one of the hardest he has ever had to make.

"It is not easy after all this time," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I love this job. I love Channel 2 and I love the city of Dayton. It was a difficult decision, but the time has come."

Phillips said he feels fortunate. "This has been so much more than a job to me," he said. "This has been my life."

He added, "The station officials have been more than kind to me, and I respect them and I am indebted to them. The decision to take retirement was completely mine. I can tell you that during conversations there were some tears shed. It is hard for all of us. "

Steve Diorio, news director at Channel 2 News, said he is sorry to lose Phillips. "Bob is somebody you just can't replace," Diorio said. "The things that he does, day in and day out, to this day, and at the age of 75, just amaze me. He is just a phenomenal news person who gets a story, any type of story, and does the job to the fullest."

Diorio added, "We just hope he can take his retirement and enjoy it with his family."

Phillips, an aggressive and hard-charging reporter, is also known as a man with a heart. Over the years, he has prowled the streets, his camera on his shoulder.

Skip Peterson, retired chief photographer of the Dayton Daily News, remembers meeting Phillips when he started working for the newspaper in 1973. "Scoop was usually the first camera at the scene of any major story," Peterson said. "He taught me, as a rookie, the ropes on the streets ... which cops to talk to, how to get to the bottom of stories."

Peterson added, "You can trust Scoop. His word is as good as gold, and even in the heat of competition he would never give anyone a bum steer. He knew every cop, firefighter, judge, politician, everyone who is anyone."

Peterson called Phillips' retirement the "end of an era."

Phillips was trained as a photographer in the United States Marines and, after his tour of duty, married his high school sweetheart, Carol, who he lost to lung cancer in 2005. He saw a billboard advertising a new television station coming to Dayton in 1958, and put in his application at Channel 2, then known as WLW-D. He joined the three-person news team and has never looked back.

In 1968 when Phil Donahue was broadcasting his nationally-syndicated talk show from the Channel 2 studios, Phillips was Donahue's chief photographer.

Phillips is recognized by his peers for leading the fight to get cameras into court rooms for some major Miami Valley trials.

He has been honored as the top news photographer in Ohio on numerous occasions, and in 2003 was in the first class inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame, along with Donahue.

Phillips said his mission has always been, "Get it first. Get it right. And then get it on the air."

Phillips is taking two weeks vacation, and then will start his new, and challenging retirement schedule.

"What will I do when I don't get up and go chasing after stories?" he said. "I may do some part-time stuff, or, well, I just don't know. It is difficult to imagine my life without the police radios and the daily rush for stories."

But he said, it's "The people. Most of all I will miss the people."

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He'd like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.