Beloved Local TV News Anchor is Out, Continuing a Houston Station’s Dramatic Makeover: Losing This Strong H-Town Proud Voice is Anything But Good News

KHOU 11’s morning team is down another beloved anchor. Following traffic anchor Darby Douglas’ exit in June (the station didn’t renew his contract), Emmy-nominated local TV news star Sherry Williams is leaving the TEGNA station after nine years. Friday will be her last day.

Williams, who has 30 years of broadcast news experience, is known for her warm and friendly style and popular on-air catchphrase “That’s how we roll!” No word yet on how she’ll roll after leaving the station and her Houston fans.

“Channel 11 is a unique place where, like so many before me, I have formed many strong bonds with my peers,” Williams tells local media blog mikemcguff.com. “I will miss everyone a lot! And I will miss being with all the great people who tune in to watch.”

Over the years, Williams has won awards from the Houston Press Club, the Dallas Press Club, United Press International and the Associated Press.

Williams has been focusing on her “The Forgotten” series this week, which tells the story of Hurricane Harvey victims who lost their homes and still find themselves struggling. It’s one of Williams’ most popular series, along with “What’s Right,” which is dedicated to highlighting people who do right and those who should be doing right.

Williams was the inaugural anchor of KHOU’s First Look, which airs at 4:30 am Mondays through Fridays, and she anchored KHOU 11 News Saturday morning from 7 am to 9 am.

Mornings will be a little less bright without the broadcasting pro for many fans. “Hate to see her leave KHOU mornings,” one person posted about Williams’ impending departure. Other commentators called her a “class act,” “a true professional” and “the best.”

“Whatever story I’m on, I always try to bring humility and humanity to it. Many of the people I interact with are at one of the highest or lowest points in their lives. I am always conscious of that and I try to treat them the way I would like to be treated if I were in their shoes,” Williams notes in her KHOU bio.

Williams is a native Houstonian, as her Twitter bio proudly declares — “Houston born and reared! Htown proud!” She grew up in the Third Ward and attended Turner Elementary, then Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School. Williams left Houston to earn her journalism degree at Texas A&M University. The Aggie even worked at Bryan radio station WTAW while going to school.

After graduating, Williams had stints in Dallas and Detroit and went on to become a correspondent for Black Entertainment Television. Next, she came back to Houston as a reporter for FOX 26 KRIV. Following that, she anchored CW 39’s KHWB, which later became KIAH.

Next stop on her list: KHOU. She’s left an impression not just for her work but for her charitable side. The marathoner founded the KHOU 11 Bike Team eight years ago. The team brings co-workers and friends together annually to do the MS 150 to benefit multiple sclerosis research.

Running was her other sport until an injury in 2013. In January 2011, Williams competed in her first Houston Half-Marathon in memory of her brother Reginald, who died from colon cancer in October 2010. The following year, she ran in honor of her father Woodard who passed away from prostate cancer in September 2011.

Williams is known for keeping things light, lively and fun. In bios, she references her love of Earth, Wind & Fire, her dream of helping to produce a movie and the adrenaline rush she feels when covering breaking news.

Her departure is now news to many of her devoted fans. No news would have been good news in this case.