Cheryl Burton
Cheryl Burton | |
|---|---|
 Ron Magers (left) and Cheryl Burton (right), ABC 7 Chicago's 5 p.m. weekday anchors. | |
| Born | December 25, 1962 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Lindblom High School University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
| Occupation | News Anchor at ABC 7 Chicago |
| Years active | 1986 – present |
Cheryl Burton (born December 25, 1962) is a news anchor at WLS-TV in Chicago. She anchors the station's 5 p.m. newscast alongside Ron Magers and is a contributor on the 10 p.m. newscast.
Education and Personal Life
Burton graduated from Chicago's Lindblom Technical High School in 1980. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where she received her B.S. in Psychology and Biology.[1] She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 2007, she was the first alumnus inducted into the school's hall of fame. [1]
At one time, Burton was married to ABC 7 sports reporter Jim Rose. They have since divorced. [2] Rose, who had been dating the Chicago Bears cheerleader Cheryl Burton, 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.[3]
On April 23, 2008, Burton, along with 4 others (5 separate attacks), was injured after a man punched them in the head or face.[4] The 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.[5]
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 Simply Elegant.[1] 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.[6]
Accomplishments
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.
Volunteer Work
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-Presbyteriain/St. Luke's fashion show. Burton is also a board member of the Life with Lupus Guild.[7]
References
- ^ a b David Guarino (May 30, 2001). "Eye on the Media ABC 7's Cheryl Burton". Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Page 10". Chicago Sun-Times. 27 January 1986.
- ^ "Several attacked on loop street". ABC 7 Chicago. April 3, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- ^ "Cheryl Burton Attacker ruled Insane". Fox Chicago. June 23, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
- ^ "All Time Honey Bear Roster". Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ "Catalysts in the Community Archive". My Black is Beautiful. Retrieved January 2, 2011.