Hosea Sanders goes primetime on ABC7
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Judy Hsu, Tracy Butler and Roz Varon surprised Hosea Sanders with a video tribute Friday morning, highlighting his time with the ABC7 morning team - more than 20 years.
VIDEO: Hosea Sanders goes primetime
Sanders will be moving to ABC7 Eyewitness News on WCIU, The U, the only local newscast offered at 7 p.m. in the Chicago area. The first broadcast is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12.
The weeknight newscasts will be anchored by ABC7 anchors Hosea Sanders and Linda Yu, Sports Anchor Jim Rose and Meteorologist Cheryl Scott.
He also said goodbye and thank you to the entire team, behind the camera and in front of it, and to the viewers.
Here is Hosea's full speech:
"This is really strange. Because I'm not leaving the station - I'm moving to another shift.
But it's the people I'm leaving on the morning show family that makes this very difficult and extremely emotional.
For more than 20 years I've had the privilege of working with some of the best people in the business and some of the best people in this world.
We've been through so much together in this mission. Which, quite simply, is to bring you the best newscast possible and to do it in a way that both informs and celebrates you - the people of Chicago.
You have welcomed me into your homes and made me a part of your lives. Supported me in good times and bad. encouraged and uplifted me. Prayed for me.
I couldn't ask for more support than I've received from you, our morning viewers. Thank you for all the wonderful words and messages.
I've been honored to work with day-in and day-out with many talented people on the morning shift - people you don't see. Thank you guys for always having my back and for being so good at what you do.
I've been blessed to share this desk with my close friends, my confidants, my advisers, my co-conspirators, my sisters. You ladies have made this all worth it. You, your families, your children, are a part of my life and you always will be. I love you more than you will ever know.
Starting next week, someone else will be sitting in this chair on a permanent basis. Terrell (Brown) is a good guy. I hope you are as kind to him as you have been to me all these years.
So, with that, I say goodbye to this chapter and prepare to open a new page.
Starting Monday, I hope to see you with my special reports on our afternoon newscasts and on our brand new 'ABC7 Eyewitness News on WCIU, The U,' every weeknight at 7 p.m.
Until then, thank you for everything!
See you later."
