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 5, 2004 - On this Fourth of July weekend, MPR listeners are asked to call in with their stories about coming to America. Caller comments are interspersed between an interview with guest Senator Mee Moua, the first Hmong American elected to State Legislator. She speaks of living in refugee camps in Laos and resettling in the U.S.
August 11, 2004 - Carl Eller, who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1964 to 1979, has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Midday takes a look at his acceptance speech, followed by an interview with Eller about football and race. He also takes questions from MPR listeners.
August 19, 2004 - Minnesota Public Radio President Bill Kling joins Gary Eichten to answer questions from MPR listeners about buying WCAL and a range of other topics.
September 2, 2005 - It's Minnesota Public Radio Day at the Minnesota State Fair and Governor Tim Pawlenty takes the stage at Carousel Park to answer questions from his constituents. Topics include stadiums, Hurricane Katrina disaster, death penalty, Minnesota National Guard, and taxes amongst others.
September 8, 2005 - As part of the Meet the Candidates series, Midday presents interviews with six mayoral candidates…St. Paul mayoral candidates include Green Party candidate Elizabeth Dickinson, incumbent Mayor Randy Kelly, and former City Councilman Chris Coleman. Minneapolis mayoral candidates include Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak, and Green Party candidate Farheen Hakeem.
September 20, 2005 - State supreme court justices, attorneys, and social workers from across the country convene in Bloomington for a national summit on how to improve America's child protection systems. Why are the systems perceived to be broken, and how might they be fixed?
November 1, 2005 - The death of civil rights icon Rosa Parks has reminded America of the racism in its not-so-distant past. During the days of the Jim Crow South, Minnesota was thought of as an island of tolerance…Was it? Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with W. Harry Davis and Janabelle Taylor, two well-known Black community figures in the Twin Cities.
November 9, 2005 - The citizens of Minnesota's two largest cities cast resounding votes in their mayoral elections, sweeping Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to a second term and choosing Chris Coleman as the next St. Paul Mayor over incumbent Randy Kelly. What will the election mean for the Twin Cities?
December 2, 2005 - While out of public office for almost 7 years, former Governor Arne Carlson still hasn't stopped thinking about how to improve government. Carlson has taken up the cause of civility in politics and responsibility in public finance and talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about his efforts.
December 6, 2005 - 2,600 Minnesota Army National Guard troops are in Camp Shelby training for deployment in Iraq. What is on the minds of Minnesota's military personnel? Midday explores that in report profiling the Minnesota Army National Guard's First Brigade Combat Team, followed by a conversation with MPR reporter Mark Zdechlik.