Robbie Timmons to retire from WXYZ-TV on October 14

(WXYZ) - Action News Anchor Robbie Timmons has announced that she will retire from WXYZ-TV in October.

Timmons' last day will be October 14. She is leaving the station to concentrate on her work with CANTER , a thoroughbred horse rescue organization that finds homes for racehorses. Timmons was recently named the Treasurer of the all-volunteer organization.

Timmons has helped build CANTER from a Michigan based organization into a national organization. It was through her work that she was inspired to write the popular children's book "Twoey and the Goat." It is currently under consideration as the subject for a feature film.

She says, "I’m excited about the opportunity to dedicate more of my time and energy to the organization that I feel so passionately about."

WXYZ-TV Vice President and General Manager Ed Fernandez says "WXYZ has been fortunate to have Robbie’s talent and experience as part of our Action News team. Always the consummate professional, Robbie has played an important role in the success of WXYZ-TV and we wish her all the best as she starts this new chapter in her life."

Timmons has been anchoring evening news in Detroit for 34 years. She joined WXYZ-TV in 1982, anchoring the 5:00 p.m. newscast with Bill Bonds. During her time at the station she has also co-hosted a variety of special programs including the Michigan Humane Society Telethon, St. Vincent DePaul Telethon, and Channel 7’s Town Hall Meeting on Breast Cancer Research.

In speaking about her time with WXYZ-TV, Timmons says “I have enjoyed being part of the Channel 7 family and viewers’ families for nearly 30 years. We’ve been together on bad news days and good news days…seen changes in Detroit and the State of Michigan, and we’ve witnessed people giving us hope and making a difference.”

Timmons began her career in 1972 at WILX-TV in Lansing where she became the first woman in the country to anchor evening newscasts at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.. She went on to anchor WJBK-TV's 11:00 p.m. newscast before joining WXYZ-TV.

She has earned six Emmy awards from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Timmons has also been recognized for her volunteer work on behalf of Forgotten Harvest, St. Vincent DePaul, the Humane Society, the Detroit Zoo, the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center.

As she prepares for her retirement, Timmons says says she plans to continue writing children’s books and is looking forward to spending more time with family, friends, and her Sheltie, Cassie.