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.
March 5, 1974 - Roy Aune, deputy director of State Civil Defense, talks about possible enemy attack and general emergency preparedness. Aune summarizes how Twin Cities would react to an attack and evacuation procedure….not as an ordered evacuation, but more along the lines of voluntary actions if international tensions build up, with an intense public information program for risk areas.
March 8, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Maceo Dixon, national campaign coordinator for the Socialist Workers Party. Dixon discusses the party’s suit to cease and desist against the U.S. government on harassment claims.
March 11, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten presents an interview with Chuck and Donna Thibodeau, operators of Divorce Education Association. The local organization is one of several that focuses on divorce reform.
April 18, 1974 - Patricia Tollefson, president of Minnesotans against Equal Rights Amendment, comments on her opposition to the Minnesota State Board of Education Sex Task Force recommendations on sex discrimination in schools.
April 26, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Minnesota Sierra Club's Bob Wagner and Bill Cunningham about the New Earth Revival, an exposition on environmental preservation and reducing consumerism. Wagner and Cunningham provide details on activities at event and the general philosophy behind efforts to lessen consumption.
May 22, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Robert Provost, board member of the Minnesota Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, about programs available to parents in assisting their child.
May 24, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten reports on a Minnesota Supreme Court case decision involving Lawrence International Salon. The ruling states that women hairstylists can now cut men's hair (as opposed to men going to barbers only).
June 6, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with architect Jim Wengler about the preservation of the Grand Avenue neighborhood and about the Grand Old Days celebration. Grand Avenue represents what some consider a solution to energy and problems by renovating existing urban areas rather than building out the suburbs. Wengler discusses the positive and negative aspects of the neighborhood, including the impact of putting in Interstate 35E.
July 25, 1974 - Rodney Loper, president of Clean Air Clean Water Group, shares his reluctance to be part of advisory board to a firm regarding copper-nickel mining. Loper is hopeful that adequately funded state agencies are best suited to address the environmental issues.
September 13, 1974 - Midday presents a profile of Alfred Adler Institute and Adlerian psychology. MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Ruth Katz and Bob Bartholow, instructors at the Adler Institute, about institute programs designed to teach Adlerian psychology.