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.
September 15, 1988 - MPR’s Bill Wareham talks with Gary Eichten about Prince’s September 14th concert at Met Center in Bloomington. Wareham shares his thoughts of experience and of the Minnesota artist.
December 30, 1988 - As the year closes, MPR’s Gary Eichten focuses on a listener suggestion that MPR host Bob Potter runs for the office of U.S. presidency in 1992. Eichten gets some reactions to the idea from Potter’s colleagues, a political analyst…and Potter himself.
February 17, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Dick Such, pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins, about the potential he sees in the 1989 spring training pitching roster.
May 18, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten chats with with Garrison Keillor about his new program in New York, which will include monologue, music, and sketches. Keillor explains the difference of new endeavor to his well-known A Prairie Home Companion program.
September 27, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten talks with Betty Ann GreenCrow about controversy over use of Indian logo at Humboldt High School in St. Paul. GreenCrow states she is not opposed to Native American symbol when done in a respectful and communicative fashion. She also comments that other important issues should have a focus, such as Native American representation in the school staff and curriculum.
October 17, 1989 - Rich Baker, member of the Department of Natural Resources, talks about the loon count numbers in the state. Of the lakes looked at in DNR study, Burnside Lake had the largest loon population.
November 2, 1989 - Bill Frenzel, U.S. representative for the Minnesota’s 3rd District, explains what he sees as cowardice in Washington, D.C. when it comes to addressing deficit.
November 3, 1989 - Wayne Simoneau, Minnesota House representative for District 51B, blasts University of Minnesota's golden parachutes.
November 7, 1989 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews George Latimer, out-going mayor of St. Paul. Latimer talks about the mixed emotions of leaving political seat he has held for over a decade, but says he looks forward to his new role as dean of Hamline University's law school.
November 9, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten talks with Nils Hasselmo, University of Minnesota president, about sports money scandal on the campus and future athletics at the university. Hasselmo also comments on concerns over exploitation of Black athletes.