Authorship credit goes to Rick Karle. This article was first published jointly in The Huntsville Times, The Birmingham News and Mobile’s Press-Register. The AL.com link for the original coverage can be seen here: https://www.al.com/life/2024/11/fathers-choice-after-auburn-player-tragedy-you-either-walk-away-from-faith-or-dive-in-deeper.html?outputType=amp“
He drives country roads and interstates. He spends hours in airplanes. He’s always on the move, arriving at companies and schools and colleges and churches with his message that is tender, yet tough.
Mike Lutzenkirchen thinks deep when he travels. He thinks of ways to save lives. He recalls memories of the life he loved so much, a life now lost.
It’s been 10 years now; 10 years since he lost his son, yet found his calling. Ten years of pain and pride and seeing his faith drive him. Mike Lutzenkirchen has plenty of travel ahead. He can’t say how many more lives his journey will save, but he knows there are many.
It was just past 10 a.m. on June 29, 2014. Marietta, Georgia’s Mike and Mary Lutzenkirchen saw the small piece of paper that was attached to their front door as they arrived home from church. “Call this number,” read the note.
It was the fall of 2010, and he was everybody’s All-American. Tall and handsome and kind, Philip Lutzenkirchen was doing life right. The Lassiter High School graduate looked back for the football thrown his way from Cam Newton. Philip — the big Auburn tight end–caught the Iron Bowl’s game-winning pass, danced “The Lutzie” and celebrated a Tigers comeback for the ages in front of Coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Their hearts sank and their spines shivered as they called the number on the note. They knew in their hearts what might be coming. “Troup County Coroner’s Office,” came the voice on the phone.
Everybody’s All-American was doing life right until he made a decision that was wrong. In the wee hours of June 29, 2014, Philip Lutzenkirchen climbed into the back seat of the 2006 Chevy Tahoe in LaGrange, Georgia — he had been drinking with friends at a farm. Three of his friends climbed into the truck — only the front passenger buckled up as the foursome drove to a gas station to buy a can of chewing tobacco.
He was just over three years removed from being crowned a national champion. Philip Lutzenkirchen tried his best, but the injuries that forced him to cut his Auburn career short forced his NFL dreams to vanish. Philip was OK with saying goodbye to the NFL — he knew his parents and his sisters Amy, Ann and Abby would be there for him forever. If only forever could be in his life.
The driver of the Tahoe ran the stop sign at 77 miles an hour. The truck hit a ditch, hit a ravine and flipped into the air. Twenty-three-year-old Philip Lutzenkirchen, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.377, landed 15 feet from the vehicle — killed instantly. The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Joseph Ian Davis, was also killed, while the two other passengers were injured.
He felt every emotion that could be felt. Mike Lutzenkirchen felt sadness and grief, anger and hopelessness. The then 51-year-old had just lost his only son, the son who was admired and loved — the young man who was one of the best tight ends in the history of Auburn football. Mike mourned alongside his wife Mary and their daughters. So many thoughts swirled in Mike’s head — he had to do something to honor Philip. He had to do something to warn young people about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. He had to demand that drivers of all ages wear their seatbelts.
It was months after Philip’s death when Mike Lutzenkirchen formed the Lutzie 43 Foundation, its objective to inspire people to make good decisions as drivers. Mike wanted people to live out the many positive character traits of his son, but he also wanted to warn people of the consequences that come from making poor choices. Mike knew his son made some poor decisions on June 29, 2014. He also knew his foundation’s motto — “Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz and Learn from Lutz” — was a perfect way to honor his son and save lives.
2015, 2016, 2017… As the years crawled by, Mike Lutzenkirchen was just warming up. “God gives you an option when tragedy strikes,” Mike told me. “You either walk away from faith or you dive in deeper.”
Philip’s father dove in deeper, tweaking the foundation and reaching out to young drivers throughout the nation.
The foundation’s “43 Key Seconds Pledge” has been signed by thousands. It asks that as drivers get into their vehicles, they follow a 43-second check: Clear Head, Clear Hands, Clear Eyes, Click It and then turn your key. The foundation’s Prepared For Life Scholarship program has provided 114 scholarships to high school, college and grad school students. The 43 Lessons To Legacy has seen big names such as Bo Jackson, Gus Malzahn and Nick Saban challenge drivers to be safe.
The foundation has partnered with the Georgia Department of Transportation and could be eyeing bigger things. “I don’t think we look at driver safety as much as we should in the private sector,” Mike tells me. “We need to partner with large companies was well as the government. The good news is we’re building a model that can be used in states throughout the country.”
It’s been 10 years now, and Mike Lutzenkirchen is not slowing down. Just last week he visited Dallas, Las Vegas, Franklin, Tennessee, and Bay Minette, Alabama, sharing his message and leading safe driver summits. “While my faith drives me, my son drives me as well,” said Mike. “Keep in mind that I hold up pictures of my son in every speech I make. While that’s difficult, I’m doing it for Philip.”
Mike Lutzenkirchen plans on leading the Lutzie 43 Foundation for about 10 more years. He can’t put a number on how many lives he may have saved over the last decade, but he continues to share his hope. “Our country is on track to have 42,000 traffic fatalities this year alone,” said Mike. “Most often the reasons for accidents are distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving and seatbelts not being fastened. Too many people are making poor decisions.”
Mike will be traveling a lot in the coming months, and he will be doing more thinking. Ten years after he lost his son, Mike will be thinking of the lives he will try to save and the life he lost. “Philip would be 33 if he were alive today” said Mike. “He probably would have been married and given me grandchildren. It’s hard for me to picture what he might look like because all I have are pictures of Philip from 10 years ago.”
Mike Lutzenkirchen will someday go to Heaven, and he will then be reunited with his only son.
“Everyone has their own vision of what Heaven will be like,” Mike told me.
“I envision Philip being at the pearly gates,” he whispered. “I’ll high five him and hug him and be with him again.”
“Philip will welcome me home.”
Visit https://lutzie43.org/ for more information on the Lutzie 43 Foundation. Rick Karle, who writes a weekly ‘Good News’ story for AL.com, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: RickKarleGoodNews@Gmail.com
