Phillip Gerald “Phil” Stevens

Year Inducted: 2018

Growing up working on his family farm, the son of a truck driver and a factory worker, Phillip Gerald “Phil” Stevens credits his early farming responsibilities as the foundation of his work ethic. In high school, Stevens earned multiple awards for his football and wrestling accomplishments in addition to serving in leadership roles in high school and college on the student council.

Following graduation from Beaver Creek High School, Stevens enrolled at Wilkes Community College and took a part-time job at a local business, Buchan Lumber, which was part of Lowe’s Hardware. After a brief stint in college, Phil had to decide – he could either work full time or go to school, not having the money or the time to do both. Phil chose Lowe’s Hardware.

 Phil’s work ethic and “Don’t Ever Quit” attitude aided him as he started his 28-year employment at Lowe’s Home Improvement. Beginning as a store employee and working his way up the corporate ladder, Phil gained a reputation for his servant leadership skills. Stevens was named “Area General Manager of the Year” twice, the last being 1991. In 1999, Phil retired as Vice President of Specialty Sales. 

 In addition to his corporate job, Phil started Specialty Car Company in 1990 in Kingsport, Tennessee. After retiring he opened a second location in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Using what he learned from Lowe’s, Phil has led Specialty Car Company to generate over $200 million in sales since its inception.

Stevens has given of his time to help others like himself. He considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be the Watauga-Ashe-Wilkes Scholarship Endowment, a fund of over $1.6 million for students who are hard workers, but whose families cannot afford to send them to college.

Whether through his scholarship or one of the many boards that he serves on, Phil G. Stevens’ vision for helping others continues to impact the Wilkes County community. Phil has given his time to the Wilkes Community College Endowment Board, Old Wilkes Heritage Museum Board, Wilkes County Community Foundation, NFL Alumni Shriner’s Charity Golf Classic, First Citizens Bank Board, Wake Forest Baptist Regenerative Medicine Board, Wells Fargo Bank Board, Appalachian State University Legend’s Gala, Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection Site, and President, Wilkes County Hall of Fame.

Stevens said, “Every young person in Wilkes County needs to know that they can work hard and succeed in life. Never let your circumstances keep you from attaining the goals and dreams you have in your heart.”

Stevens is a member of the Wilkesboro United Methodist Church and has served as Administrative Council Member, Board of Trustees Member, and Chairman of the Board. Stevens has two daughters, Daphne and Meghan, and four granddaughters.

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