Paul Harvey Dies at Age 90

Posted February 28, 2009, 9:08 pm in News

Radio legend Paul Harvey has died at the age of 90 at a hospital near his winter home in Arizona, according to ABC Radio Networks.

Paul Harvey

For decades, in that unmistakable voice, Harvey brought us the rest of the story. His broadcasting career began in the early 1930s, when he was still in high school.

"Even after the passing of his loving wife Angel in May 2008, Paul would not slip quietly into retirement as he continued to take the microphone and reach out to his audience," said ABC News Radio president Jim Robinson on Saturday. "We will miss our dear friend tremendously and are grateful for the many years we were so fortunate to have known him."

Each day, millions of Americans tuned in for Paul Harvey's "News and Comment" and "The Rest of the Story" features. He had a tremendous gift of timing and a sly wit. He was the master of holding the punchline for the most effect.

Along the way, Harvey was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and received the Paul White Award, the highest honor presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. President George W. Bush bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Harvey in 2005.

Despite several health issues, including vocal cord problems and pneumonia, Harvey continued to return to the microphone and the audience he loved so well.

“Retiring is just practicing up to be dead. That doesn't take any practice," Harvey was once quoted as saying.

Harvey's wife was more than his life partner -- she produced his radio programs and is credited with creating "The Rest of the Story." Lynne Harvey was also inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997, becoming the first radio producer to ever receive that honor. She died in May 2008 at the age of 92.

"My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news," Paul Harvey Jr. said in a statement. "So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend."

In the words of the man himself, "Good day," Mr. Harvey.

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Jackie Carlin
GB Staff
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Posted 9:30pm February 28th, 2009
For me, Paul Harvey will always remind me of my grandmother's kitchen on the farm. Every day at noon, my grandfather would come in for lunch (or dinner, as they called it. supper was at night) and NO ONE was allowed to talk during Paul Harvey's News and Comment. Even as a small child, I was always amazed that in his own subtle style, Paul Harvey was able to get my very serious grandfather to crack a smile -- especially his stories about dumb criminals.

My grandfather passed away several years ago, but since then, every time I heard a Paul Harvey segment, I was immediately taken back to that old kitchen table.

Thank you, Mr. Harvey, for bringing families together for decades. Especially in times like these, your sensibility and reasonableness will be sorely missed.