Carol Costello was born in Canton, Ohio. She was raised there in a conservative family with two brothers and a sister. Here, she's seen in 1971 in her fifth-grade school portrait.<br /><br />"I yearned to break free, and I think that TV journalism gave me that chance to go places," she says. "I've never wavered. I've always wanted to be a TV reporter since I was 12 years old."
Carol Costello was born in Canton, Ohio. She was raised there in a conservative family with two brothers and a sister. Here, she's seen in 1971 in her fifth-grade school portrait.

"I yearned to break free, and I think that TV journalism gave me that chance to go places," she says. "I've never wavered. I've always wanted to be a TV reporter since I was 12 years old."
Courtesy Carol Costello
Her first television job was in Akron, Ohio, at WAKR-TV 23. She did it all: reporting news, traffic and weather. She also became the weekend solo anchor in 1983 but was joined by Jim Kambrich the day this photo was taken. <br /><br />"When I refused to do the weather full-time, I was fired because I wasn't a team player," Costello recalls.
Her first television job was in Akron, Ohio, at WAKR-TV 23. She did it all: reporting news, traffic and weather. She also became the weekend solo anchor in 1983 but was joined by Jim Kambrich the day this photo was taken.

"When I refused to do the weather full-time, I was fired because I wasn't a team player," Costello recalls.
Courtesy WAKR-TV
Costello reported for Columbus, Ohio's, WSYX-TV with photojournalist Brad Davis in 1988. She was assigned the crime beat. <br /><br />"I got to ride around with cops. I went on street raids and crack houses after police had just broken in. It was really exciting, and I learned so much," she says.
Costello reported for Columbus, Ohio's, WSYX-TV with photojournalist Brad Davis in 1988. She was assigned the crime beat.

"I got to ride around with cops. I went on street raids and crack houses after police had just broken in. It was really exciting, and I learned so much," she says.
Courtesy Carol Costello
Costello is shown with a Channel 6 crew member in field. Four months after being hired as a reporter for WSYX-TV, she was promoted to weekend co-anchor. The 26-year-old shared the spotlight with Bill Martin.
Costello is shown with a Channel 6 crew member in field. Four months after being hired as a reporter for WSYX-TV, she was promoted to weekend co-anchor. The 26-year-old shared the spotlight with Bill Martin.
Courtesy Carol Costello
Costello says Ron Bilek, left, her former news director, was tough on her, but he taught her the ropes of television news. <br /><br />After not seeing each other for more than 25 years, they reunited on October 1, 2015, at their old workplace, WSYX-TV, in Columbus, Ohio.
Costello says Ron Bilek, left, her former news director, was tough on her, but he taught her the ropes of television news.

After not seeing each other for more than 25 years, they reunited on October 1, 2015, at their old workplace, WSYX-TV, in Columbus, Ohio.
Jennifer Grubb for CNN