For a quarter century, Bob Phillips championed better government, fair elections and healthy democracy.

He retired last month after 25 years as executive director of Common Cause in North Carolina – building one of the biggest, most active and most effective state chapters in the country.

Never flashy or addicted to the spotlight, Bob labored in his quiet, determined way for causes including government accountability, voter fairness, lobbying reform and ending gerrymandering.

Last year, when losing Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin tried to throw out 65,000 votes, Bob mobilized attention and opposition across the state.

I’ve known and respected Bob since his days as a TV reporter in Raleigh. He and I worked together in then-Lieutenant Governor Dennis Wicker’s unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2000.

At Bob’s retirement party, Dennis presented him with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, awarded by Governor Josh Stein for extraordinary service to the state.

Bob and his wife, Kathy Stokes Phillips, are intrepid travelers. After his retirement, they set out again.

The last post I saw, they were hiking in Central America.

In a few months, they’ll return to Raleigh and to their beloved Ocracoke Island.

He’ll also return, I trust, to the fight for democracy.

In Bob’s honor, Common Cause established an HBCU Student Action Alliance Scholarship Fund with initial donations of $20,000. You can contribute here.