Paul Harvey: 1918 - 2009
by Armand Vaquer
There are some things in life one takes for granted. The sunrise, the sunset, the tides. Paul Harvey, with his "Hello Americans! This is Paul Harvey. Stand by for news!" greeting, seemed to be one of those things.
Ever since I can remember, Paul Harvey News & Comment was a routine thing that one can look forward to each day along with his "The Rest of the Story" program. At twelve noon in Los Angeles on KABC-AM, Harvey's news and comments would be aired. Hard news along with humorous stories were a regular staple to listeners.
Paul Harvey died in Phoenix, Arizona today at age 90. Now that voice has been stilled and the day won't seem the same anymore.
It was wonderful that he lived and was actively broadcasting at such an advanced age. But it also makes one take for granted that he'd always be there to inform and entertain.
One day back in June 1980, I was in Estes Park, Colorado wandering around the town's tourist shops. The thing I remember most of that day was that each shop had Paul Harvey on the radio!
He was the voice of middle America. He was born Paul Harvey Aurandt in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sept. 4, 1918. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President Bush.
ABC Radio Networks told the Associated Press that Harvey died at his winter home in Phoenix, surrounded by family. No cause of death was immediately available.
He will be sorely missed. But I am grateful that we had him as long as we did.
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