“Today” show anchor Mike Leonard shared his last bit of air time yesterday with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie and had his family in the studio for support as everyone said an emotional farewell.

“Your stories…are a microcosm of you,” said Matt Lauer. “They all have incredible heart, they’re told with kindness, and hope, and modesty. They are understated and yet so powerful, and that is you in a nutshell.”

Leonard has been contributing to the show for 32 years and became well-known for his reports on the people who often go overlooked in society; he became a champion for the underdog and told the stories of those he thought needed to be shared.

Leonard thanked his wife Cathy and credited her with inspiring him to see beautiful things in everyday life.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy