Alumni Spotlight – Michael Poehlitz ‘74

What prepares someone to be a hero? Certainly training, experience, and conditioning are crucial factors. But when the time comes to put your life on the line to save another, did you ever wonder what you would do?

SHS graduate Michael Poehlitz answered that question on December 27, 2006 when his quick thinking and courage saved the life of American citizen, Eric Volz, delivering him from the fury of a lynch mob intent on inflicting its own style of justice on the Riva, Nicaragua courthouse steps. Volz had been wrongly accused of murder, but a drunken mob of 300 was not about to let the law take its course for the unfortunate American.

Michael’s path to this moment seemed an unlikely prospect when he was at SHS. He was on the football team and active in the school’s theater program, designing sets and working on the light crew, and thought he would pursue a career in theater arts. Upon graduation, however, he joined the U.S. Army, serving for six years with distinction. He then attended the University of Eastern Kentucky where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, followed by employment with the United States State Department Diplomatic Service in Miami, educating staff on anti-terrorism awareness. He has also served as a special agent for U.S embassies in El Salvador, Germany, Mozambique, and Columbia.

At the time of the incident, Poehlitz was serving as the Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Managua, assigned to attend the preliminary hearing only to observe the proceedings. He became concerned when speaker trucks encouraged a gathering crowd to protest, a crowd that quickly grew to outnumber local police. As calls from the agitators encouraged violence to the point of hanging the accused on the spot, Poehlitz transcended observer status and took matters into his own hands. He escorted Volz from the courthouse through an alley with the mob at his heels and took refuge in a local gymnasium. Inside the building, he called his embassy for assistance while barricading the door.

With an increasingly angry mob outside, Poehlitz punched a hole in the back wall of the gym and with his charge in tow, made a safe exit in a waiting car while hopelessly outnumbered police created a distraction outside. Volz, the intended victim of this mob justice, was later found innocent, but were it not for Poehlitz’ heroism, observers conclude that the man would now be dead. For his efforts that day, Poehlitz was awarded the U.S. State Department’s Award for Heroism in June 2007.

Thank you Michael Poehlitz ’74 for service to your country, your school, and your community, and for making us all “Warrior Proud.”