MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has 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.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
June 17, 2003 - Hume Cronyn, the versatile stage and screen actor who charmed audiences with his portrayals of irascible old men and frequently paired up with his wife, Jessica Tandy, died of cancer Sunday. He was 91. His last public appearance was at the Guthrie Theater last month, when he talked with the theater's Artistic Director, Joe Dowling.
June 16, 2003 - Minnesota's Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty joins host Gary Eichten in the MPR studios to discuss current events and answer listener questions. Pawlenty plans to lead a three-day trade mission to Canada in late September. The trip to Montreal will focus on the bio-science and medical industries. We discuss this trip, and other issues facing Minnesota and the nation.
June 12, 2003 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with former Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy on past and current presidential campaigns, candidates, and the Presidency of George W. Bush. McCarthy also answers listener questions.
June 11, 2003 - A last-minute infusion of money will allow the Minnesota Gang Strike Force to remain intact through another year after the Legislature grabbed most of its budget to help balance the state budget. Attorney General Mike Hatch announced that his office was providing $135,000 to help the strike force stay afloat. Created in 1997, the strike force brings together officers from across the state to work as one unit in fighting gang crime. What is the future of the strike force, and predicted summer gang activity in Minnesota? Ron Ryan, commander, Minnesota Gang Strike Force, discusses these questions.
June 4, 2003 - Writer and humorist Calvin Trillin has written 22 books, and his work has appeared in Time magazine, and The New Yorker. He has written about everything from culture to cuisine. He spoke at the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka. The event was part of the Pen Pals Lecture series, from The Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
June 3, 2003 - Hour 2 of Midday featuring two Voices of Minnesota interviews with Opera singer Vern Sutton and Bonnie Morris, the founder of the Illusion Theater.
May 30, 2003 - Michael Lewis, the author of "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game", spoke in the Twin Cities Wednesday about the economics of baseball.
May 26, 2003 - A special Memorial Day broadcast featuring a speech by the late World War II historian Stephen Ambrose, remarks from Memorial Day ceremonies, essays, and a conversation with Vietnam veteran Jon Hovde of Fertile, Minnesota. Also, a birthday essay from Gary Eichten to friend and war vet, William (Bill) Gagnier.
May 26, 2003 - The Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start for the summer tourist season. Tourism contributes nearly $10 billion to Minnesota's economy. Resorts and other tourist-oriented businesses are hoping for a summer season that will compensate for several years of struggle. Many Minnesotans will head to the water for a long weekend of fishing.
May 21, 2003 - Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Anna Quindlen, in a speech given Tuesday at a luncheon sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund. The event was the group's 21st Annual Celebration of Women's Leadership in Minnesota Government.