WBIR Main Anchor Robin Wilhoit has called 10News a second home for most of her career. September 15 marks 20 years as a reporter and anchor at WBIR-TV.
Her face and voice are familiar. So is her name.
"She's everything you want your daughter to be. That's Robin," said WBIR-TV General Manager Jeff Lee.
Robin Wilhoit has grown up in front of the camera. She brought her North Carolina charm, creative curiosity and knack for news to Knoxville in 1992. And the young, green 24-year old reporter hasn't looked back.
"When she first came to work at Channel 10, she was this young lady with Dorothy Hamill haircut and this really big voice, and you just knew just the way she was even then, that she'd be successful in broadcasting," said Wilhoit's former anchor, and current cross-town rival, WATE anchor Gene Patterson.
Broadcasting on Channel 10 has allowed Robin to report on everything from serious stories, to silly ones, even sharing some her own story.
She's spoken to viewers from the anchor desk on every newscast over the years, working solo, and then with what we refer to at Channel 10 as her "revolving door" of men.
Patterson was first up. "It's hard enough to show up at a job where it's like three in the morning and you're just barely awake, but Robin always made it nice and easy because she's so easy to work with," he said.
Robin's easy-going, yet edgy, spirit landed her next to WBIR legend Bill Williams on the evening news in 1998.
"It was like hand in glove. We were a true team," said Williams.
That strong bond got them through many nights, including the memory that sticks out most to Williams, when Robin's young son, Brandon, made a guest appearance during a live newscast.
"There's some part of an anchor and reporter's nature that is innate. That is just there. That's inbred and Robin has it," said Williams.
Then there's Ted Hall who left Knoxville in 2006 for Atlanta. He said sitting next to Robin each night was the best part of the "Big 10" job.
"She will work until she drops. One of the hardest working people I've ever been around," said Hall.
For the past six years, John Becker has shared desk duties with Robin. He has the privilege of being longest-running her co-anchor.
And, in 2011, the revolving door finally let another woman through. Beth Haynes, Robin's co-anchor on the Fox 43 10 O'clock News, considers Robin a mentor.
"I remember meeting Robin when I first started the business and I gotta admit, I was star struck. This was 'Robin Wilhoit" So it's a little surreal for me having the chance to sit next to Robin. I've always admired her professional way, her genuine approach. She's she epitome of grace and class," Haynes said.
Those who know Robin as a co-worker and friend agree two decades at WBIR is quite an accomplishment.
"Robin, congratulations on being at 20 years at WBIR. It's important you don't think about how old this makes you, being there for 20 years, because it does. It makes you really old," said Hall.
"I hope she stays for 20 more years," said Lee.
"You look the same as you did 20 years ago, so I wanna know your beauty secrets. You don't age, so sister, you keep going," said Haynes.
"I think people see that genuineness about her and I think that's what has made her successful, and what will make her successful down the road," said Patterson.
"You're very, very special to me. Thank you for being a good friend. A good colleague and i wish you the very best in the future," said Williams.
Robin's future also includes something else she built during the past two decades; her relationships with her husband Brent, daughter Katherine, 14, and son Brandon, 12.
"Your family would like to congratulate you on this great milestone. It's hard to believe its been 20 years. A lot's happened during that time. I believe I came during year one. You came during year two (pointing to Katherine). You came during year eight (pointing to Brandon) and who knows what's gonna happen in future years, but I'm sure its gonna be great. Want to tell you we love you!," said Brent Wilhoit.
"You're straight from our heart," said Katherine Wilhoit.
"Congrats and we love you!," said Brandon Wilhoit.
Robin never wants the story to be about her. But we thought she deserves it, on this 20th anniversary of serving the people of East Tennessee.