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.
June 28, 1999 - A Twin Cities speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anna Quindlen. She was featured at the Library Foundation of Hennepin County's "Pen Pals Lecture Series," and gave a speech titled "How Reading Changed My Life." Anna Quindlen has a book by that title, as well several best-selling novels.
June 22, 1999 - Noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses her work as a presidential historian and her love of baseball in a speech given recently at the annual meeting of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.
June 17, 1999 - With the former "Minnesota North Stars" in the Stanley Cup finals, Midday will take a look at the prospects for professional and big-time college hockey in Minnesota. Guests are Jac Sperling of the Minnesota Wild and Don Lucia the new coach of the Minnesota Gophers.
June 7, 1999 - Mike Christensen, executive director of the Allina Foundation and vice-president for Community Investment for Allina Health System; Judith Borger, author of "Honeywell: The First 100 Years"; and Sharon Sayles Belton, mayor of Minneapolis, discuss the Honeywell merger's impact on the community.
June 4, 1999 - St Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey talks about her plans to improve the schools.
June 2, 1999 - With WCCO-TV celebrating its 50th anniversary, Don Shelby, longtime WCCO-TV news anchor, discusses the past present and future of TV news. He shares his thoughts of broadcasting’s potential in educating, rather than entertaining. Shelby also answers listener questions.
May 28, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura's speech to the Society of Professional Journalists meeting this week in Minneapolis. Following the speech, Gary Eichten talks to former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson about how the media cover the governor and other important stories.
May 27, 1999 - Scott Ritter, former UNSCOM Chief Weapons Inspector and author of Endgame, addresses the Minnesota Meeting. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
May 21, 1999 - "Walking Out of History: The True Story of Shackleton's Endurance Expedition," an American RadioWorks documentary about Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance Antarctica expedition. MPR’s John Rabe presents various interviews, readings, sounds, and commentary.
May 19, 1999 - On this Midday, a look ahead to light rail transit in the Twin Cities. With the legislature having approved funding, what will we see, and when? Guests Peter McLaughlin, the chair of the Metropolitan LRT Joint Powers Board; and John Byrd, assistant general manager for Rail Operations at Metro Transit provide details on plans.