‘Provided a great service to this community.’ Retired Columbus newsman Dick McMichael dies
Dick McMichael, who began his career in radio and worked as a prominent TV news reporter and anchor for decades in Columbus, has died.
McMichael died Friday at 94 in Columbus Hospice from natural causes, his son Rick told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“He was a consummate professional and very, very closely aligned to the Valley area here in Columbus,” Rick said. “He felt a great affinity for the area, and to my mind, provided a great service to this community.”
McMichael’s 52-year broadcasting career, which included stints at WDAK, WRBL and WTVM, ended when he retired in 2000. He was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2020.
The funeral will be a memorial service Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. in Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbus, 8827 Heiferhorn Way.
“Dick was a great broadcaster because he was local,” retired WTVM news anchor Chuck Leonard told the Ledger-Enquirer via Facebook Messenger. “He knew his audience because he grew up with them.
“He did leave Columbus for a short stint at WSB in Atlanta, but he came back and was a consistent voice for Columbus and surrounding areas. Not to say that he re-invented himself, but he made the jump from WRBL to WTVM in 1986. His arrival made a difference as News Leader 9 finally moved into first place among the local news channels.”
McMichael wrote a book, titled “Newsman,” about his career. It was published in 2005.
“I think folks watched him because he was on the air so long,” Leonard said. “Viewers develop habits, especially when the same guy is there on a daily basis. Dick’s consistency allowed viewers to put their trust in him.”
Leonard described McMichael’s reporting and anchoring style.
“Dick was kinda laid back, not blustery, as some anchors are, Leonard said. “In my opinion, he preferred to get the stories he read right.”