MEET PHILLIP
Phillip Kilgore was born and raised in the Greenville community. After college at William and Mary and law school at USC, he returned in 1983 where he has lived and served since. From an early age, as a Boy Scout and eventually an Eagle, Phillip developed a deep passion for the mountains, forests and streams of the Carolinas. This instilled in him a firm commitment to conservation principles such as “leave the world better than you found it” and “leave no trace.”
Phillip has served on the Greenville Water Commission for nearly 20 years and as Chairman since 2013. As Chairman, Phillip has built a consensus for Greenville Water to become a leading voice for conservation and environmental stewardship. Greenville Water is engaged in active partnerships with conservation advocates, community groups, and government agencies, to the benefit of water customers and the larger public.
Under Phillip’s guidance, Greenville Water has taken a holistic stewardship approach to enhance water quality and overall the health of its watersheds, ensuring clean and sustainable water supplies for generations. Phillip also understands our society needs future generations of conservation stewards, working with Greenville Water to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and programs at Roper Mountain Science Center and the Boy Scouts.
Under Phillip’s leadership, Greenville Water has worked to advance conservation outside of its watersheds through community partnerships. Greenville Water partnered with Naturaland Trust to preserving the Chapman Bridge Preserve, protecting the iconic Oconee Bells as well as unique wildlife habitat and water quality adjacent to Lake Keowee. Partnering with DHEC and DNR, Greenville Water has had a lead role in eliminating sediment from the Callahan Branch of the North Saluda River.
Phillip has also worked professionally for environmental causes. Although his law practice today with Ogletree Deakins Law firm focuses on employment law and business litigation, he has represented a number of clients pursuing pollution claims, including a lead role in the litigation against Colonial Pipeline after the diesel fuel spill in the Reedy River in 1996.
Phillip and wife Aline raised two fine children, Harriet and Phillip, Jr., who went on to bring them two more fine children by marriage, John Scully and Bailey Ewing Kilgore.
