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Congresswoman McCollum's Statement on Honoring Gary Eichten for his 45 Years in Broadcasting On the Occasion of his Retirement from Minnesota Public Radio

January 18, 2012
Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Gary Eichten, a Minnesota broadcasting legend, as he prepares to retire after a distinguished 45-year career at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News.

It is increasingly rare today that one spends his entire career with one employer, but it is even rarer that one can say he helped to put his employer on the map. Eichten can make that claim, beginning his career in 1967 at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at Collegeville's KSJR, MPR's first station. Today, MPR is one of the nation's premier public radio systems with a reputation for integrity and thoughtful civic engagement. Gary Eichten personifies this tradition.

As host of the MPR News "Midday" program, Eichten has been a familiar and down-to-earth voice on its airwaves, providing a forum for civil discourse that truly informs and educates the public. Throughout his career, he has retained his trademark Midwestern sensibility. His colleagues sum it up best, describing him as an "everyman in the newsroom." A recent article in the Star Tribune describes Eichten as a "kid from Mankato," Minnesota, who "traded stories and barbs with state legislators, sitting governors and presidential hopefuls. An evasive answer might be met with Eichten's lovable grumble: 'Aw, c'mon, Senator.'"

Eichten's success as a broadcaster has earned him many well-deserved awards, including 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, Eichten was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Most recently, Eichten was awarded with the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.

For many years, Eichten and MPR Midday have been part of my midday ritual. As an MPR listener, I have appreciated his timely and insightful interviews. As an elected official, I have respected his tough, but fair and questions – always delivered civilly. It has been an honor to be a guest on his show. The excellent journalism practiced by Eichten and MPR is even more important today, because it has become a rarity in today's media landscape.

A testament to his notable career is the "Heckuva Farewell" planned for Eichten on January 19th in St. Paul. The evening will begin with what Eichten does best, an interview, with a guest who happens to be a former Vice President – Walter Mondale. Following this interview, Eichten will have the microphone turned on himself as he is subject to an interview about his incredible career at MPR. I know Minnesotans are looking forward to this night.

As he retires after 45 years on Minnesota Public Radio, Eichten's voice will be missed, but his legacy of broadcasting excellence will continue. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Gary Eichten, a Minnesota icon.

Issues:Arts & Humanities