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.
June 19, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten and MPR reporter Dick Daly discuss the impact of letter written by St. Cloud student Donna Gallus to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. The letter asked why Justice Stewart was still on the court after so many years. Connected or not, Justice Stewart retired shortly after.
October 29, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Tom Scallen, president of the Minnesota Kicks. The local professional soccer team is in dire financial straits as a new owner is sought.
December 21, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten presents a report from MPR’s Pat Kessler, who details the fight between Governor Al Quie and the Minnesota Legislature over a state budget. Segment includes debate excerpts from the floor of Capitol.
December 21, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten talks with MPR reporter Pat Kessler, who details the fight between Governor Al Quie and the Minnesota Legislature over a state budget. Tax provisions are at center of debate.
December 31, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Paul Overgaard, Al Quie’s campaign manager about comments from U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz that Governor Quie step aside.
December 31, 1981 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Tom Mason, Rudy Boschwitz’s press secretary about the senator’s comments to Governor Quie about running for re-election.
January 20, 1982 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Les Coleman of the National Weather Service about record-breaking snowfall in the Twin Cities. Following interview, Eichten checks in with MPR’s Nancy Fushan on conditions and problems caused by storm.
August 17, 1982 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten interviews Jeanne Coyne, an attorney from Edina, who has been named to the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Al Quie.
September 8, 1983 - Merrill Swanson, public relations director for the Minnesota Vikings, discusses Krazy George Henderson, who has been hired as a “cheerleader” of sorts. It’s a far cry from a few years earlier, when Henderson was seen as a disruption in the stands by the team.
November 28, 1983 - With the high below freezing outside the MPR studios in St. Paul, All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten calls for a daily weather forecast in Honolulu, Hawaii.