Cheryl Burton

Cheryl Annette Burton (born December 25, 1962) is an American news anchor. Since 1992, Burton has been working for ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) in Chicago, Illinois. Burton anchors the station's 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscast alongside Alan Krashesky and was the anchor for the 7pm newscast on WCIU-TV alongside Hosea Sanders.

Cheryl Burton
Burton broadcasting the ABC 7 Eyewitness News' at 10 p.m. on June 8, 2017
Born
Cheryl Annette Burton

(1962-12-25) December 25, 1962
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
OccupationNews Anchor–ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) (1992–present)
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1986⁠–⁠1995)​

Biography

Early life and education

Burton was born at Provident Hospital in Chicago, The fourth of five children to Hattie, a Chicago Public Schools teacher[1] and Simpson Burton, a U.S. Air Force veteran. For high school, Burton attended and graduated from Lindblom Technical High School (now known Lindblom Math & Science Academy) in 1980. Burton graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where she received her B.S. in Psychology and Biology.[2] She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 2007, she was the first alumnus inducted into the school's hall of fame.[3]

Professional career

Prior to Burton beginning her career in broadcasting, she was on television on Romper Room, as a contestant on Star Search, and hosted an hour long cable TV show called Simply Elegant.[2] Burton's broadcasting career began in 1989 at WGN-TV in Chicago where she co-anchored "MBR: The Minority Business Report", a nationally syndicated weekly series. In 1990, she moved to Peoria, Illinois where she worked as a reporter at WMBD-TV. From 1990 to 1992, she was an anchor at KWCH-DT in Wichita, Kansas. Burton joined WLS-TV in 1992 as weekend co-anchor/reporter. In 2003, she was promoted to 5 p.m. weekday co-anchor and 10 p.m. contributing anchor with Ron Magers and Kathy Brock. In addition to being on television, Burton was a cheerleader. She was part of the Chicago Honey Bears cheerleading squad for the Chicago Bears for three seasons from 1983-1986.[4] On June 12, 2018, WLS-TV announced that Burton will replace retiring anchor Kathy Brock as the 10pm anchor alongside Alan Krashesky. Burton will continue anchoring the 5pm show and 7pm show on WCIU-TV.

Accomplishments/Volunteer Work

Burton was the first recipient of the 2005 "Sisters in the Spirit" Award; a religious award. She was also the recipient of the 2009 Procter & Gamble Award for her outstanding community service. In 2008, Burton won the NABJ (National Association of Black Journalist) Salute to Excellence International. In the year of 2004 and 2005, she was honored with the Thurgood Marshall Award. Also in 2004, the Chicago Association of Black Journalist (CABJ) honored Burton with the Russ Ewing Award for her coverage on the E2 nightclub tragedy. In 1998, she was honored for her profession with the Kizzy Image and Achievement Award. Burton received the Phenomenal Woman Award in 1997, and she was also awarded CABJ for coverage on the Million Man March. Burton volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club of America. She is also public speaker for the students of the Chicago Public Schools. She is a participant in the Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke's fashion show. Burton is also a board member of the Life with Lupus Guild.[5]

Personal

From 1986 until 1995, Burton was married to ABC 7 sports reporter Jim Rose.[6] Rose, who had been dating Burton when she was a Chicago Bears cheerleader, surprised her with a diamond engagement ring on the Friday night before Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. Rose popped the question aboard the President riverboat, scene of a pep rally party for the Bears. Burton, who had finished a dance number with the Honey Bears, was sitting with Rose under the moonlight when he reached into his pocket for the ring. Rose, quite the romantic, had timed the proposal to come a year after the couple's first date. That, coincidentally, happened to be at a Super Bowl XIX party in Chicago.[7]

On April 23, 2008, Burton, along with 4 others (5 separate attacks), was injured after a man punched them in the head or face.[8] 28-year-old Gregory Perdue went on a fist-throwing rampage down a sidewalk in downtown Chicago. Burton was hit while on her dinner break. She was walking near Washington St. and State Street when she was hit in the head by what she thought was a bullet. She was however, hit by a punch in the head from Perdue which knocked her to the ground. An X-Ray and CAT Scan revealed no severe damage, but she said she suffered from headaches for months following the attack. At the trial, Perdue's attorney said Perdue was schizophrenic. Perdue was found not guilty on five counts of aggravated battery. The judge instead remanded Perdue to the state Department of Mental Health until April 2015.[9]

References
  1. Chicago Sun-times, Hattie Burton, Longtime Chicago teacher, news anchor's mom dies at 87, November 29, 2017
  2. David Guarino (May 30, 2001). "Eye on the Media ABC 7's Cheryl Burton". Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  4. "All Time Honey Bear Roster". Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  5. "Catalysts in the Community Archive". My Black is Beautiful. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  6. "WIXT releases first woman sportscaster". Syracuse Herald Journal. 1982-06-25. ... replaced Jim Rose as weekend sports anchor in April when he moved on to WLS-TV in Chicago.
  7. "Page 10". Chicago Sun-Times. 27 January 1986.
  8. "Several attacked on loop street". ABC 7 Chicago. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  9. "Cheryl Burton Attacker ruled Insane". Fox Chicago. June 23, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
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