John Michael Conley, Leon Educator, Dies at 89

John Michael Conley — “Mike” — died Feb. 22, 2026, in Tallahassee, Florida, at age 89. Born in Huntington, West Virginia, and raised in Bluefield before moving to Orlando, Mike devoted his life to education and to the people around him.

At an early age, Conley discovered his athletic ability and excelled in a variety of sports. In the 1950s he became an All-American on the Florida State University Track team, and he was later inducted into FSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Florida State University in the late 1950s, Conley began a career in education, first teaching American History at Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee, FL, then moving to Leon High School. He served at Leon High School for 33 years, including 17 as principal. Over the decades, he helped guide and encourage generations of students — more than 15,000 young people — and he considered it a privilege to serve his community.

After his retirement from Leon High School, Conley ran for and was elected to the Leon County School Board in 1990. He served one term before retiring from public life.

On June 10, 2008, Leon County’s new elementary school in Southwood was named after Mike Conley at a special School Board meeting. In honor of the event, the principal of Leon High at the time, Rocky Hanna, stated, “I have been continuously aware of Mike Conley and who he is for over 30 years; I heard of him and about him before I even started high school. He was my principal the four years I was a student at Leon and he is well known in the community. Reflecting back over those three decades, I realized that I have never ever heard a negative comment about Mike Conley!”

Mike was a man of steady faith, strong character, and a warm sense of humor. He shared 68 loving years of marriage with Sue Conley, and the love and respect he showed her was one of his greatest legacies. He was proud of his family and loved them deeply — three children, six grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren — and he delighted in every new chapter of their lives.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, March 20, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Pisgah Methodist Church, 7000 Pisgah Church Rd., Tallahassee. Thank you for your prayers and kindness as we remember him.