PHILIP W. HAMBY

HAMBY, PHILIP W. - died on December 22, 2013, at his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had been in declining health for a number of years, battling the effects of herbicide exposure experienced during his tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He was born to the late Richard and Juanita Hamby on August 13, 1944, in Simpsonville, SC. He is survived by his brother, Manning Richard Hamby (wife, Carolyn) of Simpsonville, SC; his brother, Morris Allen Hamby (wife, Annette) of Fountain Inn, SC; and his sister, Deborah Phillips of Marietta, GA. He is also survived by his daughter, Melissa Meyer (husband, John) of Murfreesboro, TN; his son, James Alan Hamby (wife, Michelle) of Knoxville, TN; and his three grandchildren, Johnny and Samantha Meyer and Jamesyn Shea Hamby. Hamby was a graduate of Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, SC, where he was the first student body president, and then attended the University of South Carolina before entering the U.S. Army. He served with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces. Phil Hamby called Knoxville home for nearly 40 years. He founded Phil Hamby Construction in the 70's and had a reputation for quality homes and energy-saving construction. He was selected in 1981 as the Knoxville Builder of the Year by the Knoxville Home Builders Association. He served on the Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission, HUD, and was a member of the National Association of Realtors. He was a former president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville and a Director of the State HBA and National Association of Home Builders. In the mid 80's, he opened Mr. Yogurt's Lite Food Bars, and later began the People's Press. As an active member of Premiere Publishing, The Knoxville Journal name was purchased, in 1995, to revive Knoxville's oldest newspaper where he acted as publisher/editor for nearly a decade. He was a long-time animal lover and supporter of animal rights. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to Best Friends Animal Society at www.bestfriends.org. A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., in the Remembrance Chapel, followed by interment in their Veterans Garden. A memorial service will also be held in Knoxville, TN at Bridges Funeral Home on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting www.legacy.com.