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Philip Ferriell
Born near the end of the baby-boom era, Philip Joseph Ferriell remains a life-long Indiana resident who continually ponders the definition of “Hoosier.” Raised on a farm with three older siblings, ...view moreBorn near the end of the baby-boom era, Philip Joseph Ferriell remains a life-long Indiana resident who continually ponders the definition of “Hoosier.” Raised on a farm with three older siblings, he attended parochial school for eight years where he developed a healthy fear for women in dark clothing.
His love for writing materialized in the mid 1960’s when a 6th-grade assignment involved creating a story from 20 spelling words. That unbridled freedom with the English language provided the spark that allowed his imagination to run wild.
During high school, his love of basketball could only be exceeded by the number of times he got cut from the team. This consistent failure became the impetus for his first novel, “Getting in the Game,” an inspirational story of never giving up, which was first published in 2005.
After a year at Purdue University, he delved into farming, and then shifted to moving boxes for UPS, where he retired as a delivery driver after nearly 32 years. During his stint at UPS, he wrote for their in-house magazine, “The Big Idea,” and garnered several reporter-of-the-year awards while creating his cartoon box character for “Bernie Bocks Makes the Team.”
Ferriell ironically married the first time on his father’s birthday and got divorced on his mother’s birthday. He remains the proud father of 6 children, four daughters and two step sons. Two-thirds of his life has involved rearing children and he considers that feat the focal point of his legacy.
He finally achieved greatness in the sport of basketball during the 1990’s by winning two Gus Macker tournaments with his cousin, George, and three of their friends. He also played for the Dayton Legends 50-and-older slow-pitch softball team in 2005 when they won a National Championship in Phoenix, AZ.
Ferriell lives in Hagerstown, IN where he’s resided for the last 18 years and is active in his local church as the Sunday School Superintendent. He married his wife Karen in 2001, and they presently officiate high school basketball, softball and volleyball. They’re raising two young daughters together, so the refereeing skills come in just as handy at home.view less