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 3, 1996 - Midday examines juvenile crime with guests Hennepin County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Charles Porter and Minneapolis Police Sergeant Bret Lindback. Topics include first-time offenders, juvenile justice system, and current trends. Porter and Lindback also answer listener questions.
July 9, 1996 - Midday takes up baseball at the Major League All-Star break with St. Paul Saints owner Mike Veeck and Minnesota Public Radio sports commentator Howard Sinker, who is also State News editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Veeck and Sinker share their thoughts on the state of MLB baseball and also answer listener questions.
July 10, 1996 - Midday talks with University of Minnesota President Nils Hasselmo. Topics include talks on debate over closure of general college idea, tenure rules, and campus security. Hasselmo also answers listener questions.
July 11, 1996 - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rudy Boschwitz visits Midday to share his campaign platform and answer questions from listeners as part of Midday's series of programs with the candidates. Topics include DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, minimum wage, taxes, and federal budget.
July 15, 1996 - Midday features a special Talk of Minnesota call-in program about number 34, the now-retired Minnesota Twin, Kirby Puckett. Program includes Puckett press conference and listener comments in the creation of an audio thank you letter to “Puck.”
July 18, 1996 - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bert McKasy visits Midday to share his campaign platform and answer questions from listeners as part of Midday's series of programs with the candidates. Topics include Republican primary fight, DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, electability, tax policy, and term limits.
August 6, 1996 - In connection with "National Night Out,” Midday presents a program about the effectiveness of local crime prevention efforts. Studio guests Travis Christopher, member of the Brooklyn Park Police Department and president of the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association; and St. Paul Police Lieutenant Richard Gardell share their insights and answer listener questions.
August 8, 1996 - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steven Young visits Midday to share his campaign platform and answer questions from listeners as part of Midday's series of programs with the candidates. Topics include Republican primary fight, DFL incumbent Paul Wellstone, polls, and voter pessimism.
August 9, 1996 - On this Midday program, a discussion on past, present, and future life on Mars with guest Robert Pepin, a University of Minnesota physics professor who has been involved in space research for several decades. Pepin also answers listener questions.
August 30, 1996 - MPR’s Gary Eicthen interviews Winona LaDuke, vice-presidential pick of Ralph Nader in the 1996 election. LaDuke, a Native American of the White Earth Reservation, is an environmentalist and writer.