Phil Greer

Phil Greer, a 1969 graduate of University of Kentucky, is a former All-American defensive end for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. He earned his degree in health, physical education and recreation. He also holds a masters degree from Georgetown College and earned his rank II from Eastern Kentucky University.

Long before moving into the private sector full time, Greer taught at Tates Creek High School from 1969 - 1987. He coached football, wrestling and tennis and his teams went to six state championships. Greer also served on the other side of the athletic field as a college basketball referee for the SEC, Metro Southwest, and Ohio Valley Conference.

In 1998, he was inducted into the Kentucky High School Sports Hall of Fame. He has remained active in UK athletics, serving three terms as a member of the UK board of athletics and three terms as president of the UK alumni letterman association.

In the early 1970's, Greer formed a real estate partnership with a fellow Tates Creek coach and began early development projects as a sideline to his teaching career. By 1988, Greer Development had grown to the point that it needed management full time. He left teaching and embarked on several development projects, the largest of which was development of a 17-acre property on the corner of Tates Creek and Redding Roads. In addition to the construction of a shopping center on the property, Greer sold two acres to the city of Lexington for the construction of a Lexington Public Library branch.

Greer's business holdings include Cheddar's Restaurants, Shoney's, and Fazoli's as well as investments in several motel chains. By all accounts he has proven himself a successful entrepreneur and land developer. However he still maintains a strong interest in his previous work.

It was with pleasure that he accepted the offer to serve as chair of the College of Education Capital Campaign. "Although business demands forced me to leave the profession, I still love teaching and there is a part of me that misses the work. As a graduate of this great college, I look forward to working with alumni and donors to help the college meet and exceed its goals in this campaign," Greer said.

Greer and his wife, Mary, also a UK graduate, have been married over 30 years. They have three children. Twin daughters Kristen and Kelli graduated from the University of Virginia. Kristen is Vice-President of Marketing for Christy's in New York City. Kelli earned her medical degree from the University of Kentucky. Their son, Lee, also graduated from UVA and is a partner in the I-Visionary Capital Fund in Lexington.