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.
July 6, 1994 - On the 140th anniversary of Republican Party, Midday’s Gary Eichten chats with professor George H. Miller about the formation of the party in Ripon, Wisconsin.
July 8, 1994 - U.S. Representative Rod Grams visits the Midday studios to answer listener questions. Grams is the 1994 Independent-Republic party's endorsed U.S. Senate candidate.
July 20, 1994 - Annabell Cabana, mother of Space Shuttle Commander Robert Cabana, shares memories of her son’s youth growing up in Minneapolis and talks of her feelings of him in space.
July 28, 1994 - State Senator John Marty, the DFL endorsed candidate for governor of Minnesota, talks with Midday’s Gary Eichten about various topics of focus in his campaign. Marty also answers listener questions.
July 29, 1994 - State Representative Allen Quist, the I-R endorsed candidate for governor of Minnesota, talks with Midday’s Gary Eichten about various topics of focus in his campaign. Quist also answers listener questions.
August 1, 1994 - Ann Wynia, the DFL endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate seat, talks with Midday’s Gary Eichten about various topics of focus in her campaign. Wynia also answers listener questions.
August 2, 1994 - Midday presents a community policing MPR documentary entitled A New Kind of Cop, followed by a discussion and call-in with Lucy Gerold, director of Community Services Bureau for the Minneapolis Police Department. Gerold comments on local efforts on community policing and National Night Out.
August 2, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman about the start of a city community initiative, called “SafeCity St. Paul.” Coleman details how communications, auditing, and creating an action agenda are being implemented in order to foster safer neighborhoods.
August 2, 1994 - Nils Hasselmo, president of the University of Minnesota, discusses the differences between Swedes and Norwegians. Hasselmo states that a once tense relationship is now a much more fun rivalry.
August 2, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews Mary Jo O'Brien, commissioner of the Minnesota Health Department, about MinnesotaCare and how efforts for a federal health care reform would impact the state’s health care program.