The Tyler ISD Athletic Department is proud to announce their fourth inductee into the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Phil Hicks was recognized during halftime of the Tyler High vs. Tyler Legacy football game on September 5 at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium for his dedication to covering student-athletes within Tyler ISD for over 40 years.
Hicks was a 1978 graduate of John Tyler High School (JT), where he played tennis under the guidance of Coach Stan Smith. He began his journalism career while at JT, where he served as the editor of The Lion’s Tale and earned a UIL award in both writing and headline writing.
Hicks then attended Tyler Junior College, where he graduated in 1980, and later earned a degree from The University of Texas at Tyler in 1983. He assisted with covering football for the Palestine Herald Press throughout his college experience.
In 1983, he joined the staff at the Tyler Morning Telegraph, working his way through the ranks and becoming the newspaper’s Sports Editor in 1990. Throughout his career, Hicks has covered over 500 high school football games, including two state champions out of Tyler ISD, as well as numerous runs to state championships in basketball and track and field. In addition to his work locally, Hicks has reported from eight Super Bowls, two World Series, two NBA Finals, 10 NCAA Final Fours, 10 NJCAA National Basketball Tournaments, eight NJCAA Baseball World Series, and five NCAA Softball tournaments.
Hicks has garnered recognition at every level, earning awards from the Associated Press, honors from the East Texas Press Association and the Texas Press Association, the Katy Award, and, in 1993, the Golden Hoops Award from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. A former President of the Texas Sports Writers Association, Hicks also serves as the Co-Chair of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
Today, Phil continues to write about all things Lions and Red Raiders for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, as he begins his 42nd season covering high school football, as well as basketball, baseball, and many others.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.