Kathy Phillips
The 2022 Cecil Lear President’s Award winner, Kathy Phillips from Maryland, has been at the forefront of competitive surfing on the East Coast for decades. Kathy and her husband, Jeff, were Directors of the ESA Delmarva District from 1979 to 2004 and then retuning in those roles in 2016. They led a huge growth in the DelMarva District membership along with developing surfing in general in Ocean City, Maryland during those early years as Directors. Kathy took on the role of Executive Director of the Eastern Surfing Association from 1990 to 2005 following in the huge footsteps of the legendary Colin “Doc” Couture. Through Kathy’s leadership and administrative skills, the ESA grew to be the largest surfing organization in the world. Under Kathy’s leadership, the ESA became a competitive powerhouse and also an environmental and beach access advocate up and down the East Coast. A 2004 East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee, Phillips maintained the traditions established by ESA and Hall of Fame co-founder Cecil Lear and continued by Hall of Famer “Doc” Couture of fair and well-run events that have created top notch national and international competitors including multiple men’s and women’s world champions.
