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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Twitter: @TracyButlerABC7
Instagram: @TracyButlerABC7
Tracy's Stories
Cooking Up A Storm: Raising money for muscular dystrophy with tavern-style pizza
We are cooking up a storm with a chef who's making food for an important cause.
Cooking up a Storm with Chef Kaze of Sushi-san
ABC7's Tracy Butler cooked up, or rolled up a storm with Sushi-San's Chef Kaze Chan.
Cooking Up A Storm with Carmen DeFalco of ESPN Radio
Tracy has been looking forward to this cooking up a storm, for weeks!
Downers Grove North hosts Climate of Hope conference, helping empower science teachers in classroom
The first-ever Climate of Hope conference helped arm science teachers with tools and lessons on how to take the emotion and politics out of climate change.
Illinois residents to participate in statewide tornado drill during Severe Weather Preparedness Week
In order to receive weather notifications on phones, users must turn the emergency alerts option on in settings.
Chicago weather: Severe storms bring high winds, hail to areas west and north of city | Radar
An AccuWeather Alert has been issued for Monday evening due to building storm chances with an incoming cold front.
Loyola University Chicago students fueling shuttle buses with biodiesel made by used vegetable oil
From fueling your hunger by frying your french fries to fueling shuttle buses. A student-run lab at Loyola University Chicago collects thousands of gallons of used cooking oil to convert it into biodiesel fuel.
Chicago weather: Multiple tornado touchdowns, damage reported in Sugar Grove, Aurora
A line of strong storms prompted multiple tornado warnings and a widespread tornado watch across the Chicago area on Tuesday. Several touchdowns were reported.
Cooking up a storm: Bar Siena Chef Fabio Viviani shares wagyu beef meatball recipe
Bar Siena opened its third restaurant in terminal five at O'Hare airport! Here's how to make their famous wagyu beef meatball.
Chicago area breweries craft up way to fight climate change with beer can carrier reuse co-op
Don't let climate change kill your buzz. A Chicago non-profit has crafted up a way to help.