We lost a great pioneer on May 16, 2020 in Phyllis George. In 1975 Phyllis did a very brave thing when she and CBS aired her on the popular very male dominated Sunday pregame show NFL Today as a co-anchor. Here was this lovely 1971 Miss America beauty queen speaking about NFL football alongside Brent Musberger, Irv Cross and Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder. Women weren’t part of football at that time, heck it was a man’s program. Not anymore, thanks to Phyllis George.
Phyllis George was born on June 25, 1949 in Denton, Texas and as a youth she was trained as a classical pianist. She was proud of where she came from as evident in a 1985 interview, when she said,"I am from Denton, Texas, and I will never let you or anybody else forget that, I am a small-town girl from a small town and a small-town family. If I hadn't come from Denton, I wouldn't be sitting here right now with this great job and my great husband and my beautiful children."
The husband she spoke fondly of was none other than the former Governor of Kentucky. John Y. Brown. The couple married in 1979 and later divorced in 1998, but not before raising two children who were born while the family lived in the Governor's mansion.
Phyllis had a triple threat of beauty, brains and bravery that propelled her to her many successes. She won the Miss Texas 1970 title and the Miss America crown in 1971 using her talent, gift of graceful intelligent speech and yes her beautiful aura and smile.
Let’s not forget that day in September 1975 though on CBS. The bravery it must have taken to break the barrier was enormous. Phyllis' success and acceptance by men watching football opened the doors for the many women who work in sports journalism today.
This hard working lady not only was broadcasted during football but she also was seen on the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, The Rose Bowl and even the Super Bowl. She even served a short stint as the anchor of the “CBS Morning News.” After her broadcasting career she created a chicken dish sold by Hormel Foods, authored a book and later founded a women’s beauty line that was marketed. This strong woman even fought a rare blood disease for 35 years, outliving the medical prognosis by over ten years!
Phyllis George had a magnetic personality and an unwavering drive that made her a success at almost everything she did. Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren and on every sport show on every network that has a woman broadcaster.
Phyllis George was truly a national treasure and a great Inspiration Sensation!
