MPR News Editor-at-Large and Retired Host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has 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.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
December 23, 2016 - When Minnesota poet, author and musician Bill Holm sat down to write a Christmas letter, he sorted through a lifetime of memories. He was born in 1943 and died in 2009 at the age of 65. Holm put some of these memories in a book he wrote in 1997 called "Faces of Christmas Past." That same year Minnesota Public Radio produced this "Voices of Minnesota" special, with Bill Holm reading from his own book.
July 10, 2014 - An MPR News Presents program held at Westminster Townhall Forum with former Vice President Walter Mondale.
January 20, 2012 - "Heckuva Farewell" for Gary Eichten event, held at the Fitzgerald Theater on January 19, 2012. For his last Midday show, Gary interviews Vice President Mondale, Minnesota's senior statesman. The two hold a wide-ranging political discussion.
December 23, 2011 - Stories of winter fairies and elves, from a performance at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
December 21, 2011 - Lisa See is the author of "Shanghai Girls" and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan." Many of her books center on Chinese and Chinese American characters. She discusses her writing and the influence of her Chinese American heritage at the Hennepin Country Central Library in downtown Minneapolis.
November 11, 2011 - Remembering legendary radio dramatist Norman Corwin. Norman Corwin has been called the poet laureate of radio's golden age. He died last month at the age of 101. Midday remembers Corwin with a short documentary on his career, and excerpts from his masterpiece, "On a Note of Triumph", which remains the most listened to radio drama in U.S. history.Later in the hour, author Tim O'Brien discusses his critically acclaimed short story collection on the Vietnam War, "The Things They Carried."
September 2, 2011 - Garrison Keillor, the host of public radio's A Prairie Home Companion, joins MPR's Gary Eichten on the Carousel Park Stage at the Minnesota State Fair to share stories and answer questions from the audience about his long career as a broadcaster and author.
August 4, 2011 - Best-selling author Lisa See on her bicultural heritage. Lisa See's novels include "Dreams of Joy," "Shanghai Girls," and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," which has been made into a Hollywood film. Her stories offer a fascinating glimpse into different periods of China's history. She spoke at the Hennepin County library in downtown Minneapolis on how her writing has been influenced by the Chinese side of her family.
May 11, 2011 - Author and "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor speaks at the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries Dinner about writing, performing, and how libraries are a refuge from the outside world.
April 21, 2011 - Internationally renowned scholar Marcus Borg speaks about reclaiming the language of Christianity at the Westminster Town Hall Forum. He has written a number of books that re-examine the life of Jesus and take a fresh look at the bible. Guest: Marcus Borg: Professor emeritus at Oregon State University. Best-selling author of a number of books including "The Heart of Christianity" and "Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith."