R.I.P.: Mike Calhoun, Retired Former Radio Journalist

Michael Calhoun

Longtime radio journalist Mike Calhoun has died. He was 68.

He had a long career in radio and journalism beginning as a disc jockey at WSNO, Barre and WSKI, Montpelier while in high school and college. He began news reporting at WVMT, Burlington and also worked at WHWB, Rutland and WJOY in Burlington. In 1978 he was named Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and worked as spokesman for his 1980 successful reelection campaign. In 1981 he joined WRC radio in Washington, D.C. as a street reporter and in 1983 was named News Director of the NBC owned news/talk radio station.

In 1986 he became Station Manager of WIZN radio, a rock station in Burlington, VT. He also wrote features for the Vanguard Press, an alternative weekly also based in Burlington. In 1988 he became Communications Director for the Bill Gray for U.S. Senate campaign. In 1990 he was hired by WCAX-TV as a News Editor during their year-long Vermont Bicentennial project.

A lifelong sailor, he spent the ’90s single-handing his way around the U.S. East coast and Caribbean. In 1994, he became News Director of WRMF, Palm Beach, FL and in 1996 was hired to cover the Olympic Summer games and serve as News Director of WSB-FM, Atlanta. In 2000 he bought a 62 foot Nautical ketch and opened Southern Comfort Yacht Charters in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.