SWU graduate connects with extraordinary people
Phillip Fritts has crossed paths with several interesting and notable people over the years. He is pictured here with George Beverly Shea, longtime member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team.
When Phillip Fritts was a student at Southern Wesleyan University, his dorm room was covered with autographed photos of famous people.
The 2009 media communication graduate and former SGA president started a website,PhillipFritts.com, to keep friends and family updated on people he would meet. The site launched in 2010, offering weekly interviews focusing on “ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.”
Creating a website featuring interviews is a natural development for Fritts.
“Ever since I was little, I have enjoyed asking questions,” said Fritts. “Just talk with my parents, Garry and Mary Anne Fritts. They will gladly share stories of my constant question asking!” A year into the website, Fritts was slightly disappointed by the lack of visitors. But he had a loyal following who wanted to see more from the site. As Fritts adds more features and interviews with interesting people, the site continues to engage, entertain, inform – and grow. Fritts said his site traffic has really exploded and now attracts visitors from nearly 80 countries.
Fritts’ interview subjects include many household names – Ed Asner, Kimberly Estrada, Bob Timberlake and Pat Robertson. He has also interviewed people with unfamiliar names but, nevertheless are familiar in various ways, such as Bob Bergen, who voiced Looney Tunes character Porky Pig and more. One of his favorite interviews was with Carol Spinney, who alongside of Jim Henson created Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Spinney has voiced and performed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since the first episode of Sesame Street in 1969. More recently, he has interviewed Christian financial expert Dave Ramsey and also began featuring his column on the site.
This past January, he invited an award-winning photographer to offer weekly photography advice. He also started a weekly segment, “Homegrown with Pride: USA,” putting the spotlight on companies dedicated to manufacturing their products in America.
“After living in four different countries, I have discovered that America is a great place to live, so I decided to showcase the United States on my site by highlighting unique American products such as pencils, aprons, guns, jeans, telescopes and more,” said Fritts.
Fritts’ site is updated with fresh content four times a week.
Fritts is the Guest Services Event Coordinator for The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. Prior to that, he worked for Southern Wesleyan in the Admissions office.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ.