For many who have listened to the airwaves over the previous decades, Gary Eichten’s voice is synonymous to Minnesota Public Radio. The retired MPR News editor-at-large Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at MPR, including news director, special events producer, and station manager. He routinely served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live-special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday (which he hosted for more than 20 years!).
It all began on April Fool’s Day in 1967, when Eichten started his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville’s KSJR, MPR’s first station. He became the station’s one-man news department and quickly found that turning up his headphones forced him to speak more intimately, which gave him that radio voice.
In the fall of 1992, Eichten moved from hosting the regional late-afternoon edition of All Things Considered to hosting Midday. In his new role, Eichten personified the art of hosting, a tradition begun by the program’s previous host, Bob Potter. It also solidified Gary’s distinct tone and insightful questions that listeners came to hear as being MPR.
As Midday host, Eichten let his guests answer those questions and sought to understand their responses. With daily early morning research, his respectful but direct on-air style, and assistance from his long-time producer Sara Meyer, Eichten found himself making memorable radio…from a poignant sign-off of the original regional “All Things Considered,” a live on-air moment with a contentious Governor Ventura, to even a pledge drive.
Among the honors Eichten received during his MPR career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award for Best Local News Program and the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame.
Simply put, Mr. Eichten is a Minnesota treasure, on and off the air.
September 25, 1991 - An interview with Susan Broadhead about the Loft Literary Center and writing communities in the Twin Cities.
September 26, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with member of Concordia Moorhead College about the school’s unqiue mascot “Cobber” and it’s origin.
September 27, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Paul Giel, the former All-American college football and professional baseball player from Winona, Minnesota. Giel is set to be honored at the University of Minnesota with placement into the Hall of Fame Class.
October 1, 1991 - A reflection on Minnesota farmer Ambrose Weeres and his 1952 invention, the modern pontoon boat. Weeres passed away on September 28th, 1991.
October 15, 1991 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone comments on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas. Wellstone shares his concerns of the treatment of witness Anita Hill and discusses the topic of sexual harassment.
October 15, 1991 - U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger comments on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas. Durenberger shares his belief that Thomas will come into the role as a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice and discusses Hill testimony.
October 16, 1991 - With the Minnesota Twins in a post-season run, Tom Mee, the Twins media relations director, looks back on Twins history and highlights the best Twins team over the decades.
October 16, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Calvin Griffith, the former and first owner of the Minnesota Twins, on his thoughts on the 1991 Twins team compared to past winning teams. In Griffith’s mind, the best Twins team was from the 1967 season.
October 18, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews sports commentator Howard Sinker, who provides insight into 1991 World Series match-up of American League’s Minnesota Twins and National League’s Atlanta Braves. The series opens on October 19th at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
October 23, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with beer historian Roland Amundson about the many, many breweries of the region over the decades…including during prohibition.