Philip G. Taylor was born June 25, 1939 in Larchmont, N.Y.  Phil was the son a Larchmont NY volunteer fireman and grew up learning about the fire service from his father.  His father was a captain on the department.  In 1957 Phil graduated from High School, but he had already been serving the Larchmont Fire Company for 2 years as a firefighting cadet.  He served in Larchmont until 1977 where he reached the rank of Captain.
Phil answered the call to service with our armed forces as well.  He served 2 years in the Navy during Suez Canal Crisis.  Today Phil remains active in the local activities of the local VFW and American Legion Posts where he is a member.  He is also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose.
Phil became a construction worker as his full time vocation, working and traveling for 36 years with sheet metal workers, where he retired in 2001.  His work brought him to Petersburg in 1977 with a construction project at one of the local power plants.  It was in Petersburg that Phil found a new home, and his wife Vivian (better known to everyone in Petersburg as Cooky).  Phil and Cooky were married in 1980.  Phil joined a great family where he enjoys spending time with his step-son and four grandchildren.  After his retirement Phil began a second career as the head of maintenance and custodial services for Pike Central High School in Petersburg.  He has since retired from that position and keeps debating about coming out of retirement for another venture of some sort.
Phil continued his passion for the fire service in Petersburg where he joined the local volunteer department in 2001.  Though his firefighting certifications did not transfer from New York under the old training systems, he quickly impressed the firefighters of Petersburg with his vast knowledge of the job, making them realize what an asset they had obtained.  To restore his certifications, Phil became very active in the State of Indiana’s fire school system.  Obtaining his certifications, and moving forward he transitioned from student to instructor, becoming a member of the Indiana Fire Instructors Association, and assisting with live fire training at numerous state schools and local trainings.
After the death of long-time fire chief Cy Woodall in 1987, Phil was appointed as the new fire chief for the city of Petersburg.  Three years into his now 20 years as chief of the department Phil led the group through the most devastating event in the city’s history. In May of 1990 a levy break along the White River washed out the water supply line from the town’s water well field.  Phil organized volunteer fire departments from all over the Tri-State area to respond and help haul water to keep Petersburg’s water tower full, be on stand-by for fire protection, and to assist until a temporary line could be constructed from one of the power generating stations.
Only a few short weeks later, the city was struck by a killer F3 tornado.  Under Phil’s leadership the VFD coordinated house to house searches and led our city through the initial disaster recovery processes.
Phil has become a true Hoosier, even though the New York accent still bleeds through.  He has been instrumental in the regional training initiatives of the Indiana Department of Homeland of Security where he chairs the District 10 Training Committee.  He has served as a member of the Petersburg City Planning Commission since its inception, and has served for several years as President of that Body. 
When not serving the citizens of Petersburg, you are likely to find Phil at a High School swim meet, ball game, or wrestling match, cheering on his grandchildren.  If you don’t find him there, you will locate him at the beautiful Prides Creek Park Campground in Petersburg, where he spends his summers with a fishing pole in hand.