Veteran WTHR Anchor John Stehr To Retire

John Stehr, longtime anchor at Dispatch Broadcast Group’s NBC affiliate in Indianapolis (DMA 28), announced that he will retire on June 20.

“John has made a tremendous impact on our station and across Central Indiana,” says Larry Delia, WTHR president-GM and president of Dispatch Broadcast Group. “We cannot thank John enough for his contributions as a journalist, storyteller, and ambassador of WTHR.”

Stehr’s career in journalism spans more than four decades. He came to WTHR in 1995 from CBS News in New York, where he was a network correspondent and anchor for CBS Morning News.

Stehr was also a founding anchor of CNBC. Prior to that, Stehr worked as an anchor and reporter at KUTV Salt Lake City; WISH Indianapolis; WOTV (now WOOD) Grand Rapids, Mich.; plus WJET and WSEE in Erie, Pa.

Stehr graduated from Erie’s Gannon University in 1980 and was honored by the school with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I am enormously grateful to my WTHR family and the many people I have worked with over the years. Together, we have journeyed through the highs and lows of our community and country,” says Stehr. “After 40 years in the business and a few months to reflect following my heart surgery last year, it really gave me perspective as to the importance of family, health and other ways to contribute.” 

While Stehr will be stepping down from his daily weekday role as co-anchor alongside WTHR-TV’s Andrea Morehead and Anne Marie Tiernon, he will be a regular contributor for the station’s growing list of premiere community events and special coverage.

“We are happy to know that John will continue to play a role in our station’s coverage of big, signature community events,” says Kathy Hostetter, WTHR news director. “He will be a key contributor to our 500 Festival events and Indy 500 coverage, and with the Indy 500 coming to WTHR in 2019, I’m thrilled that he will be with us as we solidify our leadership stake in all things IndyCar. John will be with us on Election Night as well, and WTHR’s annual broadcast of the Circle of Lights celebration in November.”