Michael Grant, longtime host of 'Arizona Horizon' on PBS, dies: 'He was a kind man'

Michael Grant, the longtime host of "Arizona Horizon" on Arizona PBS, has died.

Grant, an attorney who was the original host of the interview and roundtable-discussion show, died Monday, July 15, one day short of his 73rd birthday. He hosted "Arizona Horizon" since it launched in 1981. Ted Simons replaced Grant, and still hosts the show.

Grant retired from "Arizona Horizon" in 2007, and from practicing law in 2014.

"I have never worked with anyone as smart, influential and knowledgeable as Michael Grant," Mike Sauceda, executive producer at PBS Arizona, told The Arizona Republic.

"No matter how much information you could gather on a topic, he always knew it before you did. He was amazing, as he would practice law all day and then come into the station half an hour before show time and be completely prepared for the night’s topics."

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Michael Grant hosted 'Arizona Horizon' from its start in 1981

Grant's on-air demeanor was as sober and serious as it gets. His delivery was equally straightforward, as he covered a variety of subjects with an array of guests.

Before he hosted "Arizona Horizon," Grant worked as a DJ and reporter for KOY radio in Phoenix.

"One story that sticks out in my mind is when he was in law school he was working full time as an anchor at KOY," Sauceda said. "One day he was late to his law class and he told his professor he had been working late at KOY and the professor told him, 'Mr. Grant, if I can stay up listening to you that late and still make it on time then you have no excuse.'"

Off the air, it sounds like Grant loosened up, at least a little.

"On the personal side, he was a kind man, self-deprecating and never took himself too seriously," Sauceda said. "I always felt respected by him, even at times when we might disagree on politics or any other issue. Michael was truly a legendary journalist in this community and he will be missed."

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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.