Early career[edit]

Phil Yarbrough began his broadcast career in 1953, working part-time at WMGR in Bainbridge, Georgia (near his hometown of Donalsonville, Georgia). Following high school graduation, he attended Georgia Teachers College (Georgia Southern University today) in Statesboro, Georgia, on a basketball scholarship. His major was P.E., with the intention of teaching and coaching after graduation. While attending college, Yarbrough worked the evening shift at WWNS in Statesboro. After a knee injury in 1956, he lost his scholarship and left college for good. With no other good alternative, he continued to work at WWNS for the next few years. Briefly moving back to his hometown with wife Roberta, Yarbrough returned to WMGR for a short time. Wisely searching for career advancement, he gained employment with Bartell Broadcasting, at their newly acquired Atlanta station, post-purchase christened WAKE (a pairing with their Birmingham station, WYDE..."the wide awake stations"). Management proposed changing his name to Bill Blake (rhyming with 'wake'). Yarbrough protested. He proposed Phil Drake (his mother's maiden name). They settled on Bill Drake, and the rest is history.