Paul Harvey Passes Away
By Wyatt Earp | March 1, 2009
The world has lost one of the all-time greats of radio.
I remember listening to his shows with my dad as we were traveling back and forth during deer hunting season. His distinctive voice and famous catch phrase made him easily identifiable throughout the country.
He will be missed.
Paul Harvey, the legendary radio host whose career sharing “the rest of the story” with listeners spanned more than 70 years, has died, according to ABC Radio Networks. He was 90.
Harvey died at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, where he kept a winter home, said Louis Adams, a spokesman for the networks. He was surrounded by family members when he died, Adams said.
Known for his deliberate delivery and pregnant pauses, Harvey’s broadcasts were heard on more than 1,200 radio stations and 400 Armed Forces networks and his commentaries appeared in 300 newspapers, according to his Web site. (H/T – CNN)
Godspeed, Paul. Thank you for the countless hours of entertainment.
Topics: Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
He didn’t have that generic voice that all the media people seem to cultivate, so it made him very listenable and entertaining. Plus he usually had a good story to tell. He will be missed.
I’m 52 now, and I remember Paul Harvey since I was 5!
I recall settig on the porch swing with my grandfather. listening to Paul and smoking grandpas pipe. I as age six.
Sorry, can’t say that I have ever heard of the guy on this side of the pond. (Sounds like it was our loss).
May I mention another great radio broadcaster – Alistair Cooke with his “Letter from America”. His was the world’s longest running speech radio programme, beginning in 1946 and continuing until Alistair Cooke’s retirement in February 2004.
America never had a greater friend.
http://alistaircooke.org/
When I was working with my dad, we would always coincide our lunch time in order to listen to Paul’s show.
Now that I think about it, he was a radio blogger. He covered all the stories that everyone else pooh-poohed.
Alan,
Here’s a brief piece a Paul Havey, a very sweet one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKDb4hN0JoA
Alistair Cooke is a name we know, but more for his introductions to Masterpiece Theater on our public broadcasting stations. His introductions caused a young NJ girl to watch many programs that got her to love literature and drama.
I remember listening to Paul Harvey in my mom’s car. It is neat that we all have a similar memory, no matter our age.
A true legend of radio. RIP Paul.
RT: Thanks for taking the time to put up that link.
I was aware of Alistair Cooke’s introductions to Masterpiece Theatre but hardly anyone else over here would know of him through that. Were any of his “Letter from America” broadcast on your side of the Pond? There are a number easily accessible from the link I gave.
He was an Englishman who took up American citizenship and loved the USA. His challenge each week was (in 14 minutes) “to explain in the most vivid terms the passions, manners and flavour of another nation’s way of life”. The broadcasts gave a slice of American life and fascinated and informed many English men and women. I suspect my love for America came in part at least from him.
(Marshall – sorry this has been a bit off topic but the comments about Paul Harvey rang a bell with me.)
As a veteran police officer of 31 years I can’t recall the first time I heard him. All I know is from time to time he would brig a tear to these hardened old eyes. Especially when I heard his story on “What is a Police Officer”. I am proud to have served in the same profession as his father. The good book says “Blessed are the peacemakers”. Paul was one of these.