I’ve been a fan and listener of Paul Harvey since I was in high school. He contributed so much to our country in his 70 years on the air. Including phrases of ‘Reaganomics”, “Guesstimate” or, my favorite and one I often use to explain how I work as a cartoonist, “Mental Calisthenics”. Being an avid listener of Paul Harvey, his death really hit me.
I wasn’t surprised. It’s been Paul Harvey who loved to point out the short distance two long married people would die from each other. After his wife, “Angel”, died last May, I knew it would not be a year before we heard of his death.
After hearing someone for so long, it is hard not to have a feeling of family with them. Certanly my family, friends and co-workers have been involved with listening to Paul Harvey, as I often went out of my way to listen. Usually scheduling my day with Paul Harvey News as part of the day.
That includes college. I made sure my lunch times coincided with being able to listen to Paul Harvey News. At Ringling School of Art and Design and the Joe Kubert School, I would make my way to the nearest radio and basically have lunch with Paul Harvey.
I remember when drawing caricatures at, the now closed, Stars Hall of Fame Wax Museum that was in southern Orange County that I would again take my lunch time during Paul Harvey. If I was busy caricaturing and it was nearing Paul Harvey time, I would rush the drawings so I could get to my car and get some good news.
There was a fellow by the name of John Iyoob who was an Humphrey Bogart impersonator who worked at Stars Hall of Fame. When Paul Harvey came by to sign the celebrity sidewalk, John made sure I got to be part of the entourage there and I got to meet Paul Harvey. What an honor! Later I mailed him a promised caricature. He so kindly mailed back a signed photo which I still have hung up these 26 years later.
Later, while working at Orlando City Hall, I’d make my co-worker, Jeff Parker, crazy turning away from the dreadful NPR to hear Paul Harvey. I’ve continued to listen for a collective thirty years.
The loss of Harvey is the further loss of our understanding of our world. So many want to be dark and dreary about our American future while participating in the recent spending spree that has occurred. The focus on trash news instead of the good news. It’s reassuring to hear about the stupid crook who so easily is caught. Or the 80 year marriage of a couple from Sioux Falls. I want to hear the good with the bad. These stories are real and true. So are the bad stories. They both exist. That is reality. Reflecting the real world.
Since the announcement of Paul Harvey’s death, I’ve read folks who thought he was of the past. That he was an icon of the ’50s. The problem: His stories were real and now. Did these people think he made the stories up!!??!! It’s hard for too many Americans to face that real news can make you smile. That a broadcaster can do this with style and not look down their nose at the news.
Others write that he was a voice of the heartland, whatever that is. I’ve read this for years and always seemed to add up to Paul Harvey reports news that hasn’t been approved by some desk jockey in New York or Los Angeles. Since WHEN have those two areas had ANY connection with America, much less reality. New York City is firmly rooted in the 1950s and the mindset is as progressive as that. Just listen to the stale and depressing NPR (Those people really need to stop breathing into the microphones). Los Angeles lives in the same world as the Paramount back-lot. Pure fantasy land with a massive crime problem.
I don’t know if Paul Harvey News will continue. I was sidelined yesterday with a 10+ hour Jury Duty, see my personal blog. I couldn’t find it today. I know many radio stations have wanted to be rid of Paul Harvey News for years because it messed up their schedule for that 15 minutes and, thus, their profit margins. Maybe they got their way now. That is bad news.
However, I will take a Paul Harvey turn of this and look for the good news and wish everyone a Good Day!
