Monday, March 2, 2009

And now...we will never know...the rest of the story

Yesterday was a sad day. It was announced that radio news pioneer Paul Harvey died at his winter home in Arizona on Saturday. His voice was heard by millions upon millions of radio listeners since he first when national in 1951, and currently boasted about 22 million listeners a week. He was 90 years old.


I think the first time I heard Paul Harvey on the radio was with my dad in his 1961 Buick LeSabre. I remember it being in the early evening, and he was doing his "And now you know...the rest of the story" bit. I always loved hearing those quirky stories that Mr. Harvey liked to bring to his listening audience.

My liking of Paul Harvey News and Comment only grew from there. This may sound lame, but when I was in high school I would always listen to Paul Harvey. There was something soothing about hearing his voice on KONA 610 AM from noon to 12:15. And it wasn't just me who enjoyed him either. Through my Sophomore and Junior years, I went to lunch with the same group of guys pretty much every day, and we would always try to make it back out to the car by noon every day so we could hear him deliver news that for the most part did not pertain to us in the least. We even had an 8x10 glossy of good ol' Paul in the car!



Once out of high school I never seemed to have the time to tune into Mr. Harvey on a regular basis. But since then whenever I am in a car by myself, and the time of day is switching from Ante Meridiem to Post Meridiem, I would try to find him on the AM dial. But with those days now over, I am left with remembering the fun times I had listening to good ol' Paul.

I just have one more thing left to say to Paul Harvey. Gooood day.

Paul Harvey Aurandt
September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009

12 comments:

KaTrina said...

I really liked the way this was written. This is sad.

Stephanie said...

Paul Harvey was one of my favorites too. He will be missed.

Mike 'n' Cindy Brinkerhoff said...

Oh wow, I hadn't heard this news!! I too love listening to Mr. Harvey - his cadence and delivery, and the pregnant pause between the "Paul Harvey.... (more pause)...(still more pause)...(is this thing still on?)... Good Day?

Love it. Hopefully they'll keep syndicating his archives. I know that his son has filled in for him on many occasions, but I'd rather listen to the original archives. Particularly the Rest of the Story features, should - for the most part - have a timeless appeal.

Thanks for bringing that tear to my eye...

Anonymous said...

The work ethic of Paul Harvey and his integrity as a person was way above the norm. Paul Harvey was one of my favorites when I was growing up. Paul Harvey was a one of a kind and he will be missed.

hatch said...

You are right there was something soothing about his voice. I remember visiting my grandparents in Idaho. Everyday at noon my grandpa would stop whatever he was doing and pull out his radio and listen to Paul Harvey. My grandpa died a few years ago, and to listening to Paul Harvey was a link to that time. I was sad to hear of his passing.

Lori said...

I used to listen to Paul Harvey in the car with my dad too. He had such a distinctive voice and outlook.

dani said...

i listened to him every afternoon on 1280 am wgbf, thedonald!!! and when i used to tan, i always set my time for when he was on the air... then wkdq fm...
i wonder who will tout the stanley thermos and the select comfort mattress now that paul is gone???
what an icon!!!
~db
ps i hope your little e is resting well:)

SuzanSayz said...

Funny thing about Paul Harvey Donald. My mom always listened to him every day when I was a kid. I don't know if it was just to be rebellious or what, but I just never was interested in him. And I remember thinking it was so funny when I found out that you listened to him when you were young. I guess the Paul Harvey gene skipped me entirely.

Jill S. said...

donald,
I feel the same way. My dad was a farmer and I grew up listening to Paul Harvey in the pick up with my dad. I actually enjoyed listening to him as a kid.

He will be missed.

David said...

i didnt really know paul harvey, only that he always ended with "Goooooood daaay"

CARRIE H said...

I agree this is sad. I was just talking with my sister about this and our first memory of good old Paul was in the car too. But instead of a LeSabre it was a Ford LTD.

Anonymous said...

He was an amazing broadcaster. We would learn something more about something we thought we already knew. He made everyone feel comfortable and loved through his voice. And you just felt happy when he would end with "and now you know the rest of the story. Gooooood DAY!" I was sad to hear of his passing too. But in recent years his son had been doing a lot of the broadcasts, if he was in poor health then at least he isn't suffering anymore.