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.
This large curation is indicative of the breadth of that work.
January 7, 1991 - Former Minnesota Twins owner Calvin Griffith reflects on Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and life. Griffith also comments on who he thinks should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
February 28, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone to get his reaction to the end of Persian Gulf War campaign. Wellstone states his relief that the U.S. military overwhelmingly and quickly succeeded, but saddened that the war resulted in human deaths and holds to belief that sanctions would have been better option.
June 10, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone about New York parade celebration of returning military from the Persian Gulf War. Wellstone says he hopes that it is a respect for military serviceman, and not also an attempt by Bush administration on glorification of militarism.
June 12, 1991 - Professor William Rogers, member of a local Anti-Mosquito Association, shares his view that the little bugs should be eradicated from the Twin Cities.
June 14, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher about St. Paul’s newly instituted curfew for minors. Fletcher details the sanctions.
June 17, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Arthur Kaplan, professor in the Departments of Philosophy and Surgery at University of Minnesota, about the ethics behind when a doctor who is HIV positive should disclose to patients.
June 21, 1991 - With Grandma’s Marathon on the calendar, MPR’s Gary Eichten speaks with individual from Duluth on the greater tourist season in the city.
June 26, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Father Frankie Perkovich, the fourth person to be named into the Polka Hall of Fame. Father Perkovich is known for performing and promoting the Polka Mass.
June 27, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten gets the inside scoop from Kevin Strong, a baseball player from Minneapolis who finds himself as a rookie for the Minnesota Twins minor league affiliate Elizabethton Twins.
July 3, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with Euan Jones, a resident of Waterville, Minnesota, about the vandalism and destruction of a beloved 250-year-old oak tree, known as the “Yum Yum Tree.”