In his own words…

01 What was your favorite class?
My favorite class in undergrad was Sociology of Sport. It was one of the classes that inspired me to teach my UW Law School course, “Contemporary Issues in Sports Law.”
02 What advice would you offer to graduating seniors?
Get to know and speak to as many successful people as possible. Their success tends to rub off on you.
03 What is the greatest benefit of a UW degree?
The connections you will inevitably make with other UW grads all around the world will benefit you in so many ways.
04 Who is your hero? Who or what inspires you?
My hero is Abraham Lincoln. In the face of incredible adversity, he made one of the most impactful decisions to ever affect the United States. My inspiration every day comes from my parents. They both came from very humble beginnings and managed to put all four of their children in college without any secondary education themselves through their incredible love, self-sacrifice and perseverance. To top it off, they are hilarious and extremely fun to be around!
05 What’s your favorite quote?
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
06 What music do you listen to?
I like everything except country. Green Day, Jay Z and Pearl Jam are my favorites..
07 What occupies your free time?
Working out, traveling with friends and family, coaching high school varsity football.
08 Are you a cat-person or a dog-person?
I am far and away a dog person.
09 What was your first job?
I worked maintenance with my dad at the Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee when I was 11 years old.
10 What’s your guilty pleasure?
I smoke one cigar a week.

Phil Chavez never enjoyed sitting on the bench until he became the first elected Latino municipal court judge in the city of Milwaukee’s history.

Chavez played linebacker for the Badger football team that won the 1994 Rose Bowl, and he counts lettering in football and being part of the championship team among his proudest UW achievements.
His hard-hitting work ethic paid off at the UW Law School, where he learned to look at situations in analytical terms, yet never to lose his sense of morality or human compassion.

Chavez worked as a sports attorney and was elected twice as municipal judge for the village of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, before he was elected to the Milwaukee bench in 2007. He plans to run for re-election in 2011 so he can serve the citizens of Milwaukee for another four-year term.

In addition to his judicial duties, Chavez is an adjunct faculty member of the UW Law School, where he teaches Contemporary Issues in Sports Law, a certified substitute teacher for grades K–12, and a high school football coach. He also serves on the board of directors for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

He still heeds the advice of his former coach, Barry Alvarez: “No matter what you do in life, whatever it is, make sure you put everything you have into it and become the best.”

“My experience at the University of Wisconsin has truly helped shape me into the man I am today,” Chavez says. “It also continues to shape me into the man I have yet to become.”