Cleveland, Ohio – FOX 8 is celebrating a major milestone with anchor Tracy McCool, who joined the station 30 years ago on September 6, 1994.
To mark the occasion, McCool’s fellow anchors surprised her with a special montage highlighting her career, along with flowers, cake, and balloons. Reflecting on her journey, McCool shared memories of starting as an intern at FOX 8 before landing a job as an associate producer.
“When I first started, I did my internship here. I graduated and got an associate producer position,” McCool recalled. “I was working the night show, running the prompter for Wilma Smith and Tim Taylor. Before I knew it, I was producing.”
After spending three years in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Columbus, Ohio, McCool returned to Cleveland, where she began reporting for FOX 8.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with so many amazing people and bosses,” McCool said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years. Thanks for keeping track, guys. We’ve all been through a lot.”
Currently, McCool co-anchors the top-rated 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside Gabe Spiegel at 5 p.m. and Lou Maglio at 6 and 10 p.m. She originally joined FOX 8 in May 2000 as a general assignment reporter and played a key role in establishing the Akron/Summit County Bureau at Summit Mall. Early risers may also recognize her from her time as a morning show reporter and fill-in anchor.
McCool’s broadcasting career began behind the scenes at FOX 8, where she worked as a news intern and later a morning show producer. Before joining FOX 8, she was a reporter and anchor for WSYX-TV and WTTE-TV in Columbus, Ohio, following a stint at WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania.
A native of northeast Ohio, McCool graduated from Copley High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast news from Kent State University. She currently lives in the Akron area with her two children, Cassidy and Carter, and her two dogs, Samson and Nikko. In her free time, she enjoys golf, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
She also uses social media, including Twitter (@TracyMcCool) and Facebook.