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.
December 30, 1992 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Jim Walsh, local songwriter and music editor at City Pages, about Minnesota rockers that made a national impact in 1992. Walsh notes bands such as Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Sugar, and Cows.
January 6, 1993 - Bernard Brommer, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), discusses issues of concern to organized labor…including contract concessions, apprenticeship programs, and state budget problems.
January 16, 1993 - Dr. Milton Crenshaw, a veterinarian at the Animal Medical Clinic in St. Paul, answers listener questions about dog and cat health care.
January 18, 1993 - Lucia Wilkes, co-director of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), expresses her concerns on UN and U.S. actions regarding Iraq.
January 27, 1993 - Roger Moe, Minnesota state senate majority leader; and Curt Johnson, deputy chief of staff for the governor, discuss Governor Arne Carlson’s budget plan. Moe and Johnson also answer listener questions.
February 9, 1993 - Television journalist Bill Moyers joins Midday’s Gary Eichten in the MPR studio to talk about his new book, Healing and the Mind. In developing the book, Moyers spoke with world experts and lay people about the science, philosophy and folklore of sickness and health.
February 10, 1993 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with Don Fraser, Minneapolis mayor and president of National League of Cities, on the day of his last "State of the City" address. He discusses a whole range of concerns facing the city, reflects on his 13 years as mayor, and shares his hopes and plans for the future.
February 11, 1993 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone visits the MPR studios to answer listener questions about current issues before the Congress. After returning from a congressional fact-finding trip to look at businesses located just over the border in Mexico, Wellstone discusses the pending North American Free Trade Agreement, among other things.
February 15, 1993 - Former St. Paul mayor George Latimer visits the MPR studios to discuss his new role as a consultant to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros. Latimer also answers listener questions.
March 9, 1993 - On this Midday program, DFL Senator Allan Spear, who is the author of a gay and lesbian human rights bill; and Independent-Republican Senator Tom Neuville, who opposes it, talk and take questions about topic.