BEAUMONT, Texas — The 12News team is sad to say goodbye to reporter and former weekend anchor and producer Gloria Walker.
Walker first joined the team in 2021 and consistently raised the bar in her daily work.
Her last day on the air is Friday, April 5, 2024.
You've seen her on The Beat, as well as on 12News at 5, 12News at 6 and 12News at 10.
She was raised in Houston and is a graduate of the University of Houston but has strong family ties to Southeast Texas. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in Spanish while at U of H.
During her time at 12News Walker brought her infectious energy into the station and onto TV screens daily.
After several severe storms hit parts of Southeast Texas in 2023, Walker hit the streets looking to share the stories of families picking up the pieces or seeing what help they needed.
Highlighting businesses coming to Southeast Texas has been a passion of hers since she joined the team. Lamar State College-Port Arthur took notice of her willingness to help by awarding her the Star Small Business Media Advocate award.
One of Walker's first contacts she met when she got to Southeast Texas was Van Jordan, and before he passed in September 2022, he awarded her a certificate praising her work raising awareness for motorcycle safety.
Walker also took an interest in covering the shrimp industry in the area, by highlighting the struggles of local shrimpers since the surge of imported shrimp.
Walker was the first reporter to break the story of the World War I shipwreck that was discovered in the Neches River. It's a story she followed from it's discovery until she left 12News.
RELATED: 'It blew my mind' | Drop in water levels leads to discovery of shipwreck in the Neches River
She says some of her best memories living in Southeast Texas was getting to meet the viewers in her everyday life.
"Being a reporter is hard work, but getting encouragement from the community and saying you saw improvement made it worth it. I am so very grateful to you all for letting me fail, and learn, but most of all grow. I hope you think of me fondly, just like I will on my time here in good old Southeast Texas," Walker said.
12News says a said goodbye to Gloria Walker
Walker does plan on staying in the news industry after her departure from 12News, so you can keep tabs on her through her Facebook page.