Michael Luehring

"I had a good run.”

An accomplished journalist, Michael Luehring would not want the lede of his life story to be buried.

Michael was born in Wichita, Kansas, on Aug. 6, 1945, the same day the atomic bomb was detonated. He felt this historical coincidence was significant. He died on Dec. 8, 2025, in Palm Springs, California at the age of 80, a goal he was proud to obtain. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Jeanne, and in 2018 by his beloved wife of 49 years, Diana (whom he credits for giving him his “sweet ride and glide through life”), along with their precious dogs Dozer, Maxi, Toby and TJ. He is survived by his niece Genevieve and wife Sandra, nephew Nicholas and wife Sarah, great-nephew Ethan, his sister, Jan and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Jana.

Michael was often described as "the most interesting person you will ever meet." His fun personality, excellent sense of style and unique viewpoint of the world were cherished. Some of his memorable sayings were "you gotta pay to play" and "don't blend in, stand out," which he applied to everything in life including his personal style, his artistic creations and his writing. His hobbies were playing tennis, hiking, camping, jewelry making, metal sculpting and, later in life, he enjoyed playing golf with his partner, Patti. He loved cruising throughout the world with Diana. His travels included many places in Europe, two trips to China, and his favorite destination was St. Martin, which he visited annually for 16 years.

Michael graduated with his BA in English from Missouri Southern State College (MSSC). He was in the Army for two years in Seoul, South Korea, where his wife Diana moved to live with him. His main job in the Army was as a weeknight anchorman for a television news broadcast (AFKN station). Michael entered grad school after the Army and graduated from American University in Washington, DC, with a Master's degree in Journalism, an achievement he was most proud of. While in school, he interned at ABC's Washington Bureau.

He began his distinguished career at The Voice of America in Washington, DC, during the Watergate scandal. He started at the European desk in the newsroom and later secured a position with English News Programs. During his 25-year tenure at VOA, he held various positions within English News programming - broadcaster, writer, producer, executive producer - and retired as the Chief of English News programming. He produced five national political conventions and executive produced three national elections. He retired at the age of 51, after suffering a widowmaker heart attack at the age of 48. But he was fortunate to be what he called “a medical outlier,” and he and Diana began the next chapter of their lives by leaving the East Coast and immersing themselves in the natural beauty of Humboldt County in Northern California.

Accustomed to the hectic pace and deadlines of a newsroom, Michael enjoyed remaining busy in retirement and keeping his mind fresh. He did this by learning about agriculture, jewelry making and metal sculpting (self-taught). He created several metal sculptures, which hold a unique footprint throughout his home. Some of his jewelry pieces were sold at the Palm Springs Art Museum. He had an insatiable curiosity, read voraciously, loved encountering new vocabulary, and never stopped learning.Due to incessant rain in NorCal, Diana and Michael vacationed in Palm Springs annually for 12 years. This love of the desert city eventually lured them to relocate after 14 years, and he relished life in Palm Springs for over 15 years.

Michael gets the last word in this summary of a life lived profoundly. He wanted to share the letter he wrote to the VOA when he retired in 1996. Many things he said are still relevant today. 

Subject: At Long Last - Your Departing Statement

When I came to VOA, Tricky Dick was in the White House, Watergate and Vietnam were in the headlines, the newsroom was in the basement, and we tapped out stories on typewriters. Those stories went to a desk editor and then to a copy editor, a central editor and finally a teletype operator who retyped the copy for the wire. Today it is a keystroke here, a download there and bingo bango it's on the air.

There are lots of ways of measuring time between then and now. For me it has meant six presidents in the Oval office, the end of the long, hated Vietnam war and the quick end to the popular war in the Gulf. The Communist era ended, the AIDS era began and now the analog world we grew up in is giving way to a digital age. And if there is water on the moon can condos there be far behind? That is one change I will have no hand in chronicling. No, it is time to poke me with a fork 'cuz I'm done....kaputski....outta here!

Despite my smiling face and sunny disposition, which I know you will all miss terribly, I leave reluctantly (not that an ulcer, Bell's Palsy and a major heart attack isn't enough of a kick in the pants). I leave reluctantly because I will miss all of you and all that makes us tick as journalists and broadcasters. Few outside our profession can appreciate the exhilaration and single minded direction we take as a unit when faced with a great tragedy or a momentous event. I guess that makes us all closet thrill-seekers...something you would never guess looking around the Newsroom!

I will miss making decisions and I will miss offering un-sought opinions on just about everything under the sun to anyone within earshot. I will miss the laughter that went with the teasing and bantering that fueled me day in and out over the years....especially laughter from Mimi and Susan C.,Jim Malone and Debbie Tate (actually Deb's is more of a giggle. Ever hear it? Great, I tellya!). And I will miss all those who shared their talent and time with me...Hal Banks, a manager who teased, taunted and taught with great style, Diane Doherty who had fine news instincts, hot Irish blood and compassion, Phil Jurey who first suggested I give VOA a try, the classy Lee Hall, one of the woman pioneers in this male dominated profession and Dick Snyder, a steady friend who remains the respected heartbeat of News Programs. (Hey Dick, notice anything unsettling about the company I've placed you with?) I have left tons of people out, not because I don't care or have forgotten, but because this is all getting pretty sappy and looks to get worse if I continue (so don't feel bad).

For all those who have sent well wishes I will do my best to carry them out if you will do something for me. Don't blend in....stand out! Demand more from yourself and those around you, kick things up a notch every now and then, stay true to the principles that brought you to this profession. And for Pete's sake, if something doesn't look right, smell right or feel right, it probably isn't right. Stand up and say something. Credibility demands vigilance. For those younger journalists struggling with the demands of broadcasting, seek out mentors and keep plugging away. It's like I told ya....if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

My heart remains here but the rest of me is heading to Humboldt, where the sun shines most of the time and the air smells funny!

Believe me when I tell ya...the pleasure was all mine!!

Keep it simple....rgds....Mr Mike

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