LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: May 1, 2009 4:33 PM
Updated: Jan 8, 2010 11:12 AM

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Nancy Cox grew up in Taylor County, Kentucky, where she was one of ten children. She was active in public speaking early on, winning her first 4-H Speech Contest at age 9. That did it. She knew communications would somehow be a part of her life. Nancy was Taylor County's Junior Miss in 1985 and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Western Kentucky University in 1990.

Shortly after graduation, Nancy fulfilled a lifelong dream when she was named "Miss Kentucky 1990."   Nancy's other dream was a career in television news. She started at WLEX in 1992,  anchoring the market's first Saturday morning newscast. Nancy's currently the station's 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 and 11pm news anchor.

While at WLEX, Nancy has won several Associated Press awards for spot news coverage and coverage of UK basketball. In 2001, she was honored to receive tv's most coveted award, The Emmy, for anchoring. And in 2008, the Associated Press named Nancy "Best News Anchor in Kentucky."  But the honors she's most proud of are the AP Awards the station has received for Best Newscast in Kentucky. 

At WLEX, Nancy is proud to bring you our "First Monday" reports, profiles of breast cancer survivors in conjunction with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Along with the station, Nancy is proud to host the "Race for the Cure" and the "Pink Tie Gala", both efforts to reduce the impact of this awful disease on Kentucky families.

Away from work, Nancy loves to spend time with her husband and two children watching baseball or soccer.  She also enjoys singing gospel and country music. 

Years at Station: Since 1992

Current Position: News Anchor

Newscasts: LEX 18 News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11pm

Other experience: Reporter/Producer for Lexington CBS affiliate; part-time news and community affairs host for WGRB-TV in Campbellsville, Kentucky.

Awards/Recognition: 2008 Associated Press "Best Anchor In Kentucky," Emmy Award for Anchoring, Associated Press honorable mention for spot news, Miss Kentucky 1990

Education: Summa Cum Laude graduate of Western Kentucky University. Community Involvement: Member of Lexington Character Council; Past member of Kentucky Junior Miss Board of Directors; Past member of Miss Kentucky Scholarship Program Board

Family: Husband Tom Kenny, son and daughter.

Favorite Book: The Thornbirds and Gone with the Wind.

Favorite Movie: Gone with the Wind, The Shawshank Redemption, Pretty Woman.

What I like about the area: I love the mixture of small town and big city that we enjoy here in Lexington. I feel it's the best of both worlds. And who wouldn't love living in the home of Kentucky basketball.

Most interesting assignment: It's difficult to single out one assignment since I have had some amazing experiences at LEX 18... from covering presidential visits to following the Cats' journey to the final four. Two that stick out are our Kentucky Derby coverage and following Miss America for a day. I got to follow Kentucky's Heather French, during one of her "typical" days in Washington D.C. Since I had been involved in the Miss America program and had followed Heather's experience through pageants, it was exciting in several ways to see what the life of Miss America is like. The two most intense days I've ever had at LEX 18 were September 11, 2001, and Friday, February 13, 2004 -- the day Lexington firefighter, Brenda Cowan was shot and killed while trying to help a woman who'd been shot.