Sheila Gray: The Unscripted Anchor and Cincinnati’s Ambassador of Goodwill

For nearly three decades, Sheila Gray has been the warm, energetic voice waking up the Tri-State area, first at FOX19 and now as the beloved Morning News Anchor of Local 12 News’ Good Morning Cincinnati.

She’s not just a reporter reading the teleprompter; she’s a homegrown Cincinnatian (by way of Sidney, Ohio) who has earned a reputation as the city’s “Ambassador of Goodwill” and its unofficial “gal about town.”

Her career is a testament to dedication and a genuine love for community. From being the first woman to anchor the 6 p.m. news in West Virginia to becoming part of one of Cincinnati’s longest-running morning anchor teams, Gray’s journey is one of breaking barriers and building lasting connections with her audience.

Fast Facts: Sheila Gray at a Glance

The Queen City’s Morning Dynamo: An Introduction to Sheila Gray

Sheila Gray is recognized throughout the Cincinnati Tri-State area as a force of nature in local media. She holds a unique position, known not just as the anchor for Good Morning Cincinnati on WKRC-TV Local 12 News, but as the ‘gal about town’ and “Ambassador of Goodwill”.

This moniker speaks directly to her unique professional energy and style, which blends rigorous journalism with an authentic, high-wattage personal connection.

The description often applied to her—a “dynamite stick full of energy, sheer talent, and personality”—is fitting for someone who begins her day in the middle of the night to lead a highly dynamic, unscripted morning broadcast.

This enthusiasm is no accident. Gray’s own professional roots are traced back to her admiration for performers like Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, and Mary Tyler Moore, all icons known for blending humor, energy, and professionalism.

This historical context explains why she approaches the news desk with a blend of journalistic credibility and performer dynamism, resulting in the magnetic “million dollar smile and personality that many television talents wish they could find”.

Defining Professional Authority

Gray’s longevity and impact on the Cincinnati media market are rooted in substantial professional credentials. She is a native of Sidney, Ohio, underscoring her deep regional connection to the Tri-State area.²

Academically, she demonstrated intense early focus, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Ohio University’s prestigious E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in just three years.

Her career milestones include historical achievements that broke gender barriers in the industry. Prior to Cincinnati, she was recognized for pioneering work in West Virginia, where she became the first woman to anchor the crucial 6:00 News at WSAZ-TV.

Today, her impact is measured not just by ratings—she leads the region’s top-ranked morning show—but by her civic engagement.

She is a highly decorated community advocate, notably receiving the prestigious Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Humanitarian Award, placing her in the company of Cincinnati’s greatest civic heroes.

The biography of Sheila Gray is not merely a list of job titles; it is the narrative of a woman who built her entire career around the principle of authenticity, utilizing her performance instincts and formidable work ethic to achieve both historical media success and profound community impact.

Her ability to recall specific cultural touchstones, such as honoring the Reds and remembering the days of Riverfront Stadium nostalgia, proves that she is not a transient media figure.

She is an integrated, long-term member of the Tri-State community, which lends weight and credibility to her role as the region’s “Ambassador.”

From Sidney to Scripps: Forging a Cincinnati Soul

Sheila Gray’s deep loyalty to Cincinnati began long before she sat at an anchor desk in the Queen City. Her childhood, spent about 90 minutes north in Sidney, Ohio, established an enduring passion for the city’s identity, particularly its sporting culture.

The Big Red Machine Roots

Growing up, Gray was fundamentally a Reds fan, fondly recalling the legends of the Big Red Machine era. Johnny Bench and Pete Rose were childhood heroes, and she vividly remembers wearing out a T-shirt adorned with Bench’s number 5.

Her love for the team often intersected with her early ambition, as she won tickets to Reds games multiple times simply by making the honor roll in school.

Driving down to Cincinnati, watching her heroes play at Riverfront Stadium, and being allowed to stay up late were momentous childhood experiences.

Years later, when her professional career brought her to WXIX-TV (Fox 19) in Cincinnati, she was assigned live broadcasts from Riverfront and, subsequently, Great American Ballpark on Opening Day.

This was a moment of genuine professional “elation,” transforming a cherished childhood passion into a fundamental professional ritual.

She recognized immediately that Opening Day in Cincinnati is truly a “true holiday in the Queen City,” and through this work, she had the privilege of meeting icons like Sparky Anderson, George Foster, and Tom Browning.

This connection to local heroes also provided a crucial philosophy that informed her career resilience. She often recalls the words of the late Joe Nuxhall, “The Ole Left Hander,” who loved the “optimism of Opening Day” and viewed every new season as a “clean slate”.

This idea of embracing hope and starting anew became a thematic metaphor for navigating professional and personal setbacks later in her life, demonstrating how Cincinnati culture has shaped her approach to overcoming adversity.

She has also continued this tradition by taking her daughter, Katie, and son, Eric, to Opening Day games, valuing the memories of carrying on that Reds fandom with her children.

Academic Excellence and Accelerated Ambition

Gray’s rapid academic achievement foreshadowed her aggressive professional trajectory. She attended Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and excelled, graduating Magna Cum Laude in only three years.

This intense focus allowed her to accelerate her entry into the competitive world of broadcast media.

She is recognized for this success as a proud member of the Ohio University’s Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Her accelerated ascent in education and career was deeply contextualized by the era. Gray recognized that when she first aspired to journalism, “All the major players in news back then were men”.

Her ambition, therefore, was not simply career-driven; it was a decisive counterpoint to established gender barriers.

Her rapid completion of her degree and subsequent pioneering role as the first woman to anchor the 6:00 PM news in Charleston were direct outcomes of this intense drive, preparing her for the competitive, fast-paced environment of Cincinnati morning television.

Breaking Ground in Broadcast: The West Virginia Years (The Training Ground)

The earliest stages of Sheila Gray’s professional development took place in West Virginia, where her career rapidly transitioned from radio to television.

She started in radio at WCAW and V-100 before moving to television at WOWK Channel 13 in 1987. By 1988, she moved to WSAZ Channel 3, where she remained until 1999.

A Pioneer and Award-Winning Reporter

It was during her tenure at WSAZ that Gray achieved a significant historical milestone. She was named the anchor of the 6:00 News, becoming the first woman to hold that crucial position at the station.

This groundbreaking achievement demonstrated not only her talent but also her ability to succeed in the most high-stakes, time-honored slot in local news broadcasting.

Her reporting during this period garnered recognition, including awards from the West Virginia Associated Press.

Throughout this time, her work ethic and on-air presence were frequently described as being “in overdrive,” a marked contrast to contemporaries who were only “just getting started”.

This description of intensity prepared her perfectly for the unpredictable and high-energy demands of morning news.

The Storyteller’s Instinct and Mentorship

The authenticity that defines Gray’s career today was fostered early on by key mentorship. Jim Reader, a veteran of WSAZ Channel 3, served as a crucial mentor.

Reader recognized a quality in Gray that she hadn’t yet fully developed herself, noting that he “saw something in me I didn’t know that I had”.

Reader identified her not just as a news reader, but as a natural “storyteller.” He noted that she possessed “a way of finding out what the good stories really were and that I would find stories where many reporters would not go”.

This mentorship culminated in a simple, yet defining, piece of advice: “just to be Sheila”.

This instruction to maintain her genuine personality while reporting gave her the freedom to integrate her natural performance energy—the same energy she admired in comedic television icons—with her journalistic integrity.

This mandate for authenticity is the bedrock of her enduring appeal and her ability to foster trust with the Cincinnati audience.

The Longest Run: A Decade Defining Cincinnati Mornings (Fox 19)

In 1999, Gray fulfilled a personal aspiration by making the pivotal career move to Cincinnati’s WXIX-TV (Fox 19).

She viewed the opportunity as a personal homecoming, driven by her lifelong affinity for the region, the Reds, Riverfront Stadium, and the sound of Marty Brennaman’s voice.

The Power of Partnership and Unscripted Success

Upon joining Fox 19, Gray became co-anchor of the Fox 19 Morning News alongside Rob Williams. This partnership defined Cincinnati morning television for a generation.

They maintained a 14-year run together, making them the longest-running morning anchor team in Cincinnati history.

This exceptional tenure speaks volumes about their combined on-air chemistry and the deep loyalty they built with their viewers.

Gray arrived in a new format, as she had never before hosted a Morning Show featuring the live interviews and cooking segments common to the genre.

However, she “soon fit right in”, leveraging her authentic storytelling ability to thrive in the unscripted environment.

The broadcast was distinctly community-centric; Gray noted that the team “opened our show by talking about what was going on in the city. It was not scripted at all”.

This format maximized her natural, engaging persona, cementing her status as a local favorite.

Navigating the Great Media Pivot

After 14 successful years at Fox 19, Gray made the decision to transition to WKRC-TV Local 12. This move occurred around 2013-2014 and involved a substantial professional hurdle common in modern broadcast media.

Gray spent six months away from Cincinnati television before joining WKRC. This mandatory hiatus was likely due to a restrictive non-compete clause, which is often attached to talent contracts, particularly at Sinclair-owned stations like WXIX.

Such contracts often include a significant “liquidated damages clause for leaving before the term of their agreement was up,” sometimes requiring payment of up to 40 percent of annual compensation.

The necessity of navigating a non-compete clause, enduring months off the air, and potentially absorbing a financial penalty underscores the immense professional cost Gray was willing to bear to seize the opportunity at Local 12.

The professional transition period was compounded by significant personal and entrepreneurial challenges. During this time, Gray was forced to “pivot and re-create not one but two businesses” following the closure of her previous job and company dismantling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 While the timeline for the business challenges and the non-compete period may differ slightly, the pressure of making a high-stakes career move while simultaneously founding new ventures (including her fashion design collection) demonstrates her exceptional resilience and drive, reinforcing the idea that she is always “in overdrive.”

Local 12 and the Ambassador Role: Energy in Overdrive

Gray’s career momentum was described as “booming” when she “seized the opportunity” in 2014 to become the Morning News Anchor on WKRC Local 12’s Good Morning Cincinnati!. Nearly a decade later, she remains at the top of her game, leading the “#1 ranked Show”.

Thriving on Unpredictability

The early start required for morning news—arising hours before sunrise—is embraced by Gray, who insists she “wouldn’t have it any other way”.

Her success in this segment stems from her ability to thrive in the unpredictable, live environment. She emphasizes that one of the things she loves about the job is that “You never know what’s going to happen on LIVE TV. It’s a challenge we all deal with”.

This energetic acceptance of the unscripted moment perfectly aligns with the advice she received early in her career: “just to be Sheila.”

She expresses deep professional satisfaction at Local 12, noting, “I love coming to Local 12 everyday, it’s a time for me to grow and proudly work with our #1 Morning Show”.

Her continuous presence across the city and the Tri-State area solidifies her designation as the “Ambassador of Goodwill”.

The Designer’s Parallel Life

Gray’s professional life extends beyond the news desk into the world of entrepreneurship and fashion design with the Sheila Gray Collection.

This endeavor is far from a mere hobby; it serves as a tangible extension of her personal mission and community advocacy.

She openly shares that the impetus for her business and subsequent success grew out of profound career challenges, including having to fund everything herself as a woman of color, the dismantling of a company, and the challenge of pivoting into the foreground.

She is blessed to have “survived and thrived,” transforming these life lessons into a mission-driven business.

The underlying purpose of the Sheila Gray Collection is deeply humanistic, aiming to “give back to others by empowering them to feel good about themselves and to exude confidence”.

This focus on self-love and self-esteem strongly suggests that this venture was shaped by her experience with a major personal health crisis.

The business became a means of preparing herself psychologically to embrace the “new me” required by her resilience narrative.

The positive impact her creations have on individuals, helping them “embrace their uniqueness,” confirms the designer’s role as a mission-driven parallel career.

A Solid Pro’s Mentorship

Recognizing her own arduous journey, Gray actively mentors aspiring journalists. She provides candid and practical advice, emphasizing the intense commitment required for success in broadcast media.

She stresses the importance of networking and persistence: “Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who are in our profession. Ask Questions and get all the advice you can”.

Furthermore, she gives a realistic warning about the demanding nature of the work, noting, “You will work terrible hours, weekends, and may even begin as a traffic reporter, I did. Just follow your dream”.

This comprehensive guidance establishes her as an authoritative and experienced figure whose legacy is actively shaping the future of Tri-State media.

The Human Story: Resilience, Advocacy, and the Power of Acceptance

Beneath the boundless energy and professional achievements lies a story of profound personal resilience that defines Sheila Gray’s commitment to community service.

The Turning Point of Acceptance

In 2015, Gray faced a life-altering cancer diagnosis, which required a mastectomy and 15 rounds of Herceptin. She was informed that she would lose her hair due to chemotherapy, a fact that deeply impacted her self-image.

Having previously loved her blonde, shoulder-length hair, she was “horrified,” not by the treatment itself (having been in and out of hospitals since age 11), but by the prospect of losing her breast and her image.

This worry was magnified because she was only a year and a half into her relationship with her partner, Ross (now known as her husband, Ric).⁷ She feared losing her sense of self and worried about her partner’s reaction.

She received tremendous support from her partner, friends, and family, and reached out to organizations like Breast Cancer Now for additional guidance.

After struggling with a wig that was too large for her head, Gray reached a profound turning point. One morning, she decided to “accept whatever was changing in me.”

She ditched the wig and consciously began to accept what she dubbed the “new me,” including her naturally grey, cropped hair.

This public act of self-acceptance—a decision made while maintaining a high-profile presence on television—was a defining moment of strength that fundamentally deepened her connection to the community.

Family Foundation and Support

The resilience Gray demonstrated was bolstered by her family. She lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband, Ric Robinson, who shares a unique dual-career history, having been a successful broadcaster himself while also serving as a State Trooper.

Their blended family life is dynamic and full; they are parents to four children: Kasey, Kari, Katie, and Eric. This detailed family portrait ensures that her glamorous television career remains grounded and relatable to the working families of the Tri-State area.

From Survivor to Spokesperson

Gray leveraged her personal health battle to strengthen her humanitarian commitment, transforming trauma into dedicated public service.

Her primary goal became “teaching people that ‘life can be good again after a diagnosis'”.⁷ This active mission drives her extensive work with various organizations.

She has served on the board of the Make A Wish Foundation, demonstrating sustained, high-level dedication to children facing critical illnesses.

Her connection to cancer advocacy is reinforced by her support for Pink Ribbon Girls, an organization dedicated to helping those fighting breast cancer.

 Furthermore, she supports the Joe Nuxhall Scholarships and Miracle League Fields, and is involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaigns.

Her visibility extends to Northern Kentucky charitable events, where she regularly serves as the Queen for the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children fundraiser.

The depth of her community service—rooted in personal experience—is what validates her title as an Ambassador of Goodwill.

Major Community and Humanitarian Engagements

Recognition and Enduring Legacy

The ultimate acknowledgment of Sheila Gray’s dual career—broadcasting excellence and community advocacy—came with the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Humanitarian Award. This accolade recognizes her extensive and dedicated work in the community.

Joining Cincinnati’s Icons

The significance of the Joe Nuxhall Award is monumental; it links her philanthropic efforts directly to one of her earliest personal heroes, the Reds legend, Joe Nuxhall.

To receive an award named after the man whose philosophy of optimism shaped her professional resilience represents a profound full-circle moment in her life.

Furthermore, receiving the award places her in an elite cohort of Cincinnati civic leaders and philanthropists, joining previous winners such as NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz and former Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman.

This honor confirms that her legacy is woven directly into the fabric of the city’s greatest charitable achievements, extending her influence far beyond the viewership of WKRC.

The Perpetual Drive

Sheila Gray’s longevity, evidenced by her decade-long success at WKRC following her historic 14-year run at WXIX, underscores her professional endurance and commitment to the Tri-State area. Her career continues to be defined by the high energy level described as “overdrive”.

Her sustained impact is cemented by her active mentorship of aspiring broadcast professionals.

By sharing the hard-won lessons of her career, including the necessary sacrifices and the path from traffic reporting to leading anchor, she actively shapes the media landscape of the future.

Her story is a testament to the powerful outcome of blending performance, authenticity, and profound community commitment.

Career Timeline: Sheila Gray’s Broadcasting Milestones

Conclusion: The Unscripted Power of the Queen City Anchor

Sheila Gray stands as a definitive figure in Cincinnati media history. Her biography is a complex narrative of achievement built upon relentless dedication and profound personal transformation.

She is recognized for media pioneering, having broken barriers as the first woman to anchor a prime-time news slot in West Virginia and for co-hosting Cincinnati’s longest-running morning team.

Beyond the teleprompter, Gray’s experience with her 2015 cancer diagnosis and subsequent public decision to embrace her “new me”—including the natural, cropped grey hair—provided the foundation for her humanitarian outreach.

Her personal journey cemented her mission to help others find self-love and confidence, a principle she now extends through her fashion design collection and her high-level involvement with organizations like Pink Ribbon Girls, Make A Wish, and the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League.

Her extensive career—spanning over two decades in high-visibility roles and capped by honors like the Joe Nuxhall Humanitarian Award—establishes her as one of the most authoritative and trusted figures in Tri-State journalism.

Sheila Gray is not just the face of Good Morning Cincinnati; she is the energetic, unscripted embodiment of the Queen City’s enduring resilience and goodwill.

🎥 The Local 12 Morning Team

Sheila doesn’t work alone. She is part of a powerhouse team that wakes up the Tri-State:

• Bob Herzog: Anchor (known for “Dance Party Friday”)

• John Gumm: Chief Meteorologist

• Aleah Hordges: Anchor

• Jen Dalton: Traffic/Anchor

🔮 What’s Next for Sheila?

As of 2025, Sheila shows no signs of slowing down. In an industry where longevity is rare, she remains a constant. Her recent contract extensions and continued high ratings suggest she will remain the face of Cincinnati mornings for years to come.

Have a favorite Sheila Gray moment or memory? Did you watch her back in the FOX19 days, or are you a Local 12 loyalist? Drop a comment below!

Suggested Sources and Further Reading

1. WKRC-TV Local 12 Official Anchor Bio.

2. NKyTribune Article: “Mike Tussey: Sheila Gray is WKRC Local 12’s ‘gal about town’ – and Ambassador of Goodwill” (2023).

3. NKyTribune Article: “Mike Tussey: Ric Robinson followed his dream and has had a charmed life” (2025).

4. Ohio University Alumni/Journalism School Features.

5. Findlay Market Parade “Sheila Gray: My Favorite Opening Day Memory” (Anecdotal content).

6. The Joe Nuxhall Foundation Website (for her humanitarian award).