ABC13 reporter Jeff Ehling is calling it quits. After more than two decades at the Houston station, Ehling announced this week that he is retiring from ABC13’s Eyewitness News.
Ehling has been with the station since 2000, when he was hired as a reporter shortly after his wife landed a job in Houston. Over those 26-plus years, he has covered everything from the Texans’ first game as an expansion team to Iraqi missiles hitting Kuwait City during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
From Valdosta To Houston
Ehling grew up in south Georgia and attended Valdosta State University, where he earned a degree in television. His first reporting jobs came at TV stations in Valdosta and Macon, Georgia, along with West Palm Beach, Florida.
The move to Houston came in 1999, when his wife got a job in the city. One month later, in early 2000, Ehling was hired at ABC13.
A Reporter Who Covered It All
Ehling’s career at ABC13 spanned every kind of story. He covered breaking news across southeast Texas, traveling to report on events as they unfolded.
His resume includes some of the biggest moments in Houston history. In 2002, he reported on the Texans’ first game as an expansion team.
He also traveled to Kuwait during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he reported on Iraqi missiles hitting civilian targets in Kuwait City.
Ehling eventually became ABC13’s Action 13 consumer reporter. In that role, he helped Eyewitness News viewers and offered tips for saving money in an increasingly expensive economy.
Weather And Hurricanes
Weather has been a constant in Ehling’s reporting. He covered many of the major weather events that impacted southeast Texas since 2000, including Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Retirement Plans
In retirement, Ehling plans to travel and spend time with his wife and two grown sons.
The timing of his departure is notable. Twenty-six years is a long run in television.
Key Facts Box
- Retirement date: This week
- Start date at ABC13: Early 2000
- Length of service: More than 26 years
- First job: Reporter at Valdosta and Macon, Georgia, and West Palm Beach, Florida
- Education: Degree in television from Valdosta State University
- Notable coverage: Texans’ first game (2002), Iraqi missiles in Kuwait City (Operation Iraqi Freedom), Hurricane Harvey (2017), Tropical Storm Allison (2001)
Comparison Table
| Event | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Texans first game | 2002 | Houston |
| Iraqi missiles in Kuwait City | Operation Iraqi Freedom | Kuwait |
| Hurricane Harvey | 2017 | Southeast Texas |
| Tropical Storm Allison | 2001 | Southeast Texas |
The Bottom Line
Ehling’s departure is a reminder of how long careers in local television can last. He arrived in Houston in 2000, and he stayed through some of the most consequential moments in the region’s recent history.
His reporting covered sports, war, and disaster. ABC13’s statement about Ehling’s departure is brief but warm. The station says it will miss him and wishes him a happy retirement.
For his part, Ehling has earned the retirement. He covered the Texans’ first game, Iraqi missiles in Kuwait City, and hurricanes like Harvey, and he did it over more than two decades.
ABC13’s statement about Ehling’s departure is brief but warm. The station says it will miss him and wishes him a happy retirement.
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