If you were to ask Jackie Parks her greatest accomplishment in life, she would tell you it’s her family.
Two kids, Jack and Anika and her loving, devoted husband Todd.
After all, her family has been intertwined with her career in television from the very beginning.
But long before kids, years before her time at 23ABC, Jackie’s career began like most journalist’s careers’ do, in small town America.
Jackie stepping in front of the camera in Great Falls Montana.
Later moving to the bigger town of Billings, and getting the bigger stories.
She even had the opportunity to interview then Vice President of the United States George Bush.
And in 1989, Jackie traded life in Yellowstone Country for life in Kern County.
Joining then ABC affiliate KBAK in 1989, where she would anchor with Don Clark for more than 10 years.
The anchor team one of the most respected, and watched in the market.
And in 1998 Jackie joined the team at KERO, paired with her co-anchor and husband Todd Karli.
And for the better part of 15 years—the duo sitting on the news desk every night for the 5p , 6p, & 11p.
But it was away from the anchor desk where Jackie would make her biggest impact.
Co-hosting the annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway for more than a decade.
Todd and Jackie made the trip to the life-changing hospital in Memphis, Tennessee every year; telling stories of the countless kids and their families battling cancer.
Jackie’s passion for giving back was on display with the 23ABC leadership award. A weekly segment highlighting extraordinary Kern County volunteers giving back to our community.
Jackie’s art of telling a great story reflected in the numerous Emmy awards she was presented over the years.
In 2013 winning the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award for her story hard lessons.
A glimpse into a mother and son’s struggle through homelessness.
If a story needed a compassionate story-teller, you could trust Jackie to tell it the right way because she provided a voice to the voiceless in our community.
Jackie took us into the world of so many people, who we would not ordinarily met.
The art of a true journalist and news anchor—taking us to new places as a viewer.
So we say goodbye to Jackie Parks, a Kern County television icon who’s contribution to Bakersfield, and this community extends well beyond the airwaves.
And for that, we say Thank You.
