Born on April 1, 1926, Phil T. Carlino is a businessman, politician, community activist, and former State Chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party. After serving in the Navy in World War II, he attended the University of Buffalo (now known as the State University of New York at Buffalo). He met his future wife Florence, whose family had moved to Buffalo, New York, from Steubenville, Ohio, in 1946 and they were married that same year. The couple owned a coin and stamp collecting shop in Buffalo.