Fox59 anchor Cheryl Parker stepping down

One of Central Indiana's most well known and honored news anchors is stepping down. After more than 16 years at Fox59, Cheryl Parker is leaving the station to be with her husband and their twin, 20-month-old daughters.

"This is an extremely difficult decision," said Parker. "However, my family has to come first."

Parker started at Fox59 as a reporter before becoming the station's weekend anchor. She later joined Bob Donaldson and Brian Wilkes, who have been together for 13 years, making them the longest running anchor team in Central Indiana.


"To be together, so successful, for so long, says a great deal about our team, and what Bob, Brian and Cheryl mean to each other," said News Director Lee Rosenthal.

"We're losing a terrific anchor and journalist, and an even better person."

Parker's success on the air is just a small part of what she has achieved - she's become passionate working with a number of local organizations, especially those that help children and their families.

Parker currently serves on the Board of Family Service of Central Indiana and on the United Way's Success by 6 Leadership Council. She has received honors from the Community Action Center in New York, Indiana Black Expo, the Center for Leadership Development and the United Way.

In addition, the Indianapolis Business Journal recognized Parker in its "40 under 40" publication and named her one of the "Most Influential Women in Indianapolis."

"I truly love this community and feel very fortunate to have spent most of my career in Central Indiana, " said Parker.

Parker is a five-time Emmy nominee who has been honored by the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists.

In 1997, she was one of only two broadcast journalists in the nation chosen for a fellowship to the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families at the University of Maryland.

In September of 2009, Parker helped Fox59 successfully launch its 4pm newscast, anchoring "Fox59 News: First at Four". She will remain with the station, anchoring its 4:00 and 10:00 newscasts through the May sweeps period, with her final night being Wednesday, May 26th.