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 3, 1992 - Minnesota labor activist Harry DeBoer is remembered by former union radical. De Boer was instrumental in the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934 and a leading member of the Socialist Workers Party.
January 6, 1992 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with Gary Doty, newly-elected mayor of Duluth, on what he sees as important going into 1992. Topics of business, tourism, and city infrastructure are at the forefront.
January 8, 1992 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Nina Archabal, executive director of the Minnesota Historical Society, on organization’s court efforts to keep the Minneapolis Armory from demolition. Archabal speaks of the structure’s architectural and historical importance.
January 16, 1992 - Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser shares details on his talks with President George Bush on commission to focus on families in U.S. cities, and how to help foster healthy environment and support for them.
January 17, 1992 - MPR’s Gary Eichten gets the scoop from Marilyn Nelson on the various pre-Super Bowl festivities. It is a true Minnesota winter affair. Activities include a “warm-up” aerobic workout outside the Metrodome that includes motions of shoveling snow, throwing snowballs, and pushing cars.
January 20, 1992 - Karal Ann Marling, professor of Art History and of American Studies at the University of Minnesota, chats with MPR’s Gary Eichten about St. Paul’s marketing coup with Winter Carnival taking place during run-up to Super Bowl being hosted in Minneapolis.
January 31, 1992 - Al Quie, former Minnesota governor, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about dropping approval ratings for Governor Arne Carlson, as his administration addresses a struggling economy and taxes.
February 3, 1992 - An interview on the development of a soup kitchen in Fergus Falls to assist the homeless and those struggling after job losses in area. A definition on what exactly the term “soup kitchen” means is provided.
February 7, 1992 - Nancy Mudge Cato, of Elk River, reflects on her professional baseball playing years. Mudge was an infielder for Kalamazoo Lassies and played for numerous All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams.
February 10, 1992 - With the passing of author Alex Haley, All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Jim Toscano about his recollections of the author developing and researching for his acclaimed book “Roots” during his visits in Minnesota.