Commissioner Phil Garver

• Ph: (423) 838-1059

• Email

• Term expires November 2022

I was born in Oregon and grew up in Texas. I received an AS degree in Business; a BS degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from Southern Adventist University; a MS in Phys Ed from Eastern Michigan University; and an Ed.D. in Health Education from UT Knoxville. I was drafted into the army in 1966 and served as a medic in Vietnam for 11 months in the 2/1 Cavalry, attached to the 4^th Infantry Division, near Pleiku.

I taught high school Phys Ed and Health, and coached gymnastics for six years in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where our children Steve and Leah were born. We are blessed with three granddaughters to expand our lives.

I returned to Collegedale in 1976 to teach Health and Phys Ed at Southern, where I taught for 38 years. I was the Dean of the School of Phys Ed, Health & Wellness for 28 years and served on the Faculty Senate for 4 2-year terms. I developed and implemented three Bachelors degree programs in Health Science, Corporate Community Wellness Management, and Sports Studies with seven emphases, along with a Vegetarian Culinary Arts certificate program.

I am currently the commander of our local VFW Post 1697 and am excited about the addition of an A-4 fighter aircraft to our Veterans Memorial Park soon. I am a builder at heart, and have built several homes, hundreds of decks, and installed and finished many gym floors.

I love to travel. I’ve been in all 50 states, and 23 countries in Europe, Asia, and South and North America.

Collegedale has been very good to me and I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back as a city commissioner.