Tracy Butler
Butler is an annual contributor to ABC 7's live coverage of the Chicago Auto Show in February and also plays in the CATA's (Chicago Automobile Trade Association) annual golf outings. Previously, she had co-hosted the Chicago Air & Water Show and All-Star Shootout Golf Show on ABC 7.
From 1993 to 2002, Butler filled in for weather anchors Spencer Christian and Tony Perkins on ABC's Good Morning America.
Before joining ABC 7, Butler anchored the morning and noon weathercasts at WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia. (1992-93). Earlier, she was the chief weather anchor at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio (1988-1991).
Butler began her broadcasting career as a weathercaster at WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia (1988).
Butler is a sealed member of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society. She was named "Woman of the Year" by the Executive Women's Golf Association and has won the Illinois Treasurer's Public Service Award. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Public Education Award from the Illinois Chapter of the MS Society. She was recognized in 2014 with an Emmy Award, along with the ABC 7 Weather Team, for the special "Surviving the Storm."
In 2013, she along with co-director, Scott Woodruff, started a golf outing called The Duke Classic, to honor the memory of long-time ABC 7 cameraman, Michael Dukewich, who passed away in 2012. The outing raised nearly $100,000 to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository & the Wounded Warrior Project.
Butler promotes the talent of children through her Weather Sketcher's Club, which encourages children to send their weather-related drawings for potential airing on ABC 7 News This Morning. "I LOVE seeing how children express their creativity through markers, crayons, paints and pencils. Their interpretations of weather elements on paper bring new eyes to something that affects us all!" Students ages 13 and younger can send their weather-related drawings to ABC 7, 190 North State Street Chicago, IL 60601.
Butler earned her B.S. in Broadcasting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and was awarded her meteorology certification from Mississippi State University in 2001. She is married and has two children. She loves to golf and often participates in charity golf outings. In addition, she also emcees the annual MS Walk for Charity and the Les Turner ALS Walk for Life. In addition to emceeing events for numerous charities, she is involved with the organization, ReClaim 13, a charity devoted to ending the sexual exploitation of children, and bringing awareness to human trafficking.
She continues to have a love for ABC Daytime's General Hospital and occasionally hosts "Soap Chat" with "fellow soap fan," Diane Pathieu. Their reports can be seen on Facebook.
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Tracy's Stories
Christmas wreaths helping paint a better picture of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood
Christmas wreaths made by youth from Southside Blooms
Cooking up a Storm with Medley Grill & BBQ: smoked lamb ribs recipe
The owner of a South Side BBQ joint shared his recipe for Smoke Lamb Ribs.
Climate Ready: How to host a less wasteful Thanksgiving
Don't be a holiday trasher. Here are some ideas on how to host a less wasteful Thanksgiving this year.
Repair Cafés breathe new life into broken household items, teach people to fix on their own
Don't throw it away. Chances are you can fix that broken household item for free at a Repair Café near you.
Cooking up a Storm: Prepped n' Plated shares healthy Thanksgiving meals
The founder of Prepped n' Plated joined Tracy Butler to cook up some healthy dishes for Thanksgiving.
River North chef cooks up a storm for Meals on Wheels Chicago
ABC7 Chicago's Tracy Butler cooked up a storm for a good cause on Thursday.
Publican Quality Meats shares signature mortadella, burrata sandwich recipe
The head chef of Publican Quality Meats in the Fulton Market District talked about working with "The Bear."
Logan Square's Giant restaurant shares Saffron Tagliatelle recipe on Cooking up a Storm
Giant is one of the many Chicago restaurants featured in "The Bear" on Hulu.
Cooking Up A Storm: Seafood paella recipe from Artango's Bar and Steakhouse
We are cooking up a storm with Artango's Bar and Steakhouse in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Health officials close lakes as potentially toxic blue-green algae blooms could harm people, pets
Wisconsin health officials found pockets of blue-green algae "blooms" in the water in Lake Geneva. Illinois health officials were out Thursday testing the water at lakes in north suburban counties.