By AFRO Staff

Irving H. Phillips Jr., the first Black photojournalist for the Baltimore Sun, has died. 

The veteran photographer died on Dec. 22 in Loch Raven, Va. at the age of 79 from end-stage renal disease, a condition which causes the kidneys to permanently cease functioning.

Phillips is known in the Baltimore area and beyond for his work with the media company, which began in 1969. He retired in 1993. Phillips covered a wide range of topics for the newspaper, including politics, sports and local breaking news. 

Phillips had many influences throughout his life. His father, Webster Phillips, and his grandfather, I. Henry Phillips Sr. were both news photographers for the Baltimore AFRO American Newspaper.

Local journalism giant Dan Rodricks, weighed in on Phillips’ passing. 

“So sad to hear this news,” said Rodricks, to his 10,000 followers on Facebook. “Irv Phillips was a great cool guy and gifted photographer who taught [me] a bunch about Baltimore. We had fun together on a couple of stories as well as a short film we made in 1985, ‘Little Big Paper,’ lampooning the rivalry between the bygone Evening Sun and the Morning Sun. Irv played Bruno, a news photographer who had a nose for finding asbestos. It’s a long story. He was so very proud of his father and his son, both photographers. Rest in peace.” 

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member –subscribers are now members!  Join here!  

The post Local photography legend,
Irving H. Phillips, dies appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .

This post was originally published on this site