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.
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.
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.
June 5, 1989 - House Speaker Bob Vanasek shares his frustration with Governor Rudy Perpich’s attitude in the tax bill. Vanasek feels the governor has had ample chance to act regarding tax reform and that delay is unnecessary.
May 31, 1989 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews former Major League Baseball power hitter Don Baylor about the struggling Twins and his recollections as a member of Twins team during the 1987 championship season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
July 7, 1988 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten talks with Doris, a member of Ely’s centennial committee, about the city preparations for a special visitor during its 100 year celebration. A. Courtland Ely III, great-grandson of Ely's namesake, will be first time an “Ely” has visited the town.
May 19, 1988 - With the suicide death of Roger Caldwell, MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten takes a look back at the 1977 murders of Duluth heiress Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse. Caldwell plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to time served, or five years. Despite this, Caldwell repeatedly claimed innocence, including in a suicide note.