He started out as a student-announcer, and rose through the ranks, spending his radio career with Minnesota Public Radio. After nearly 45 years, and the past 20 years as midday host on the statewide service, Gary Eichten announces he will be stepping down. Eichten said on the air, "I am retiring on January 20 ... I am going to miss it. No doubt about it. After nearly 45 years on the station and the last 20 in middays it's probably time to get off the treadmill and give some of the younger folks a chance." MPR quotes Minnesota Broadcasters Association president & CEO Jim du Bois, saying "This is an industry where people tend to come and go pretty quickly, and to have survived and not only survived but thrived and set new standards for journalism in a 43-plus year career is pretty impressive." You can listen to Eichten's on-air retirement announcement here.