[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 176 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   IN RECOGNITION OF CHERYL JENNINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2015

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of the most 
recognizable, watched and listened-to women in the Bay Area: Cheryl 
Jennings has been in the 5 o'clock news anchor chair at ABC7 KGO-TV for 
27 years and worked at the station for 36 years. It is safe to say that 
she is one of the most trusted and admired reporters/anchors in our 
area and I am one of her staunchest fans. Cheryl is ostensibly slowing 
down, but not quite. She will continue to host her weekend show Beyond 
the Headlines and report more long-format stories like the series she 
recently did in Afghanistan.
  Over the decades Cheryl has reported on just about every topic, but 
all of her stories have one thing in common: she always finds an angle 
to help people. Cheryl is one of the most giving, empathetic and 
genuine people I know. The word ``no'' doesn't exist in her vocabulary.
  I have had the distinct honor to work with Cheryl on countless 
occasions. For years, she has been the masterful emcee at Professional 
Businesswomen of California and other programs. She has been the 
keynote speaker at my Congressional events for middleschoolers and 
seniors. As a journalist, she is warm and inviting, but always 
professional and insistent on the truth. I took on the issue of rape 
and sexual assault in the military about five years ago. Many stories 
have been written and produced about this horrendous epidemic, but it 
was Cheryl Jennings who produced, wrote and reported the most 
comprehensive and powerful piece on the subject that I have seen.
  Cheryl learned the value of hard work, perseverance and public 
service early on. She was one of seven children born to a father who 
served in the U.S. Army and a mother who raised her and her siblings. 
As the oldest, Cheryl had lots of opportunity to change diapers, feed 
and take care of babies. The military sent Cheryl's family all over the 
world. By the time she started high school, she had changed schools 
more than a dozen times. She says that part was tough, but prepared her 
well for life in TV.
  Her original plans to become a teacher changed when she started 
college at City College of San Francisco. Her advisor told her to look 
for another career path because there were too many teachers. Cheryl 
interviewed two very rare women for a story in the college newspaper. 
They both worked in television, on air--almost unheard of in that era. 
The rest is history.
  Reporting was not an easy path. While she was earning her Bachelor's 
degree from San Francisco State University, she was rejected for 
volunteer-entry-level positions at TV stations 19 out of 20 times. 
Finally, a woman at the local NBC station hired her to work 50 hours a 
week while she continued to go to school. Her pay? Nothing. But her 
hard work and perseverance eventually paid off. The NBC station hired 
her as a paid receptionist, she worked her way into the newsroom, and 
in 1979, KGO TV hired her as a night reporter. The entire Bay Area 
became her classroom and she has taught her lessons exceptionally well.
  Cheryl has travelled the world to tell stories--Mexico, Kosovo, 
Afghanistan, South Africa, Korea, Israel and the West Bank. Here at 
home, one of the most memorable stories she covered was the 1989 Loma 
Prieta earthquake. She was the first local reporter on the air thanks 
to the station's quick power generator. KGO's coverage earned the team 
two of the most prestigious broadcast awards, a George Foster Peabody 
Award and the Radio Television News Directors Association Edward R. 
Murrow Award. Cheryl says this was the moment she understood just how 
vital television is in providing public service.
  Doing good is what drives Cheryl. In 2003, she co-founded the Roots 
for Peace Children's Penny Campaign, a non-profit that removes 
landmines in war-torn countries and builds and repairs schools. She 
works with the Taylor Family Foundation and the Okizu Foundation to 
help children with life-threatening illnesses. She lends her voice and 
passion to many non-profit events that raise awareness and funds. All 
of this amazing work has earned Cheryl many awards, including six 
Gracie Awards, but what matters most to her are the children and 
families whose lives she has touched.
  Cheryl has been married to the love of her life Richard Pettibone for 
29 years. They enjoy sharing adventures together, whether it's a safari 
in Africa or a hike on a local beach.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor Cheryl Jennings, a first-rate journalist and extraordinary woman 
whom I am honored to call a dear friend. I know that she will continue 
her outstanding work on the air and off the air. Cheryl is a true 
treasure to her family, our local community and the world.

                          ____________________