My daughter called me last night to tell me that Paul Harvey has died (a
year and a day after William F. Buckley).  She knows that I don't watch
television and would probably not get the news until this morning.  She
called because she knows the great love and immense respect I have for Mr.
Harvey.  The station I listen to during the day, WGST, didn't renew Paul's
contract some years, ago and I had lost contact with him.

I didn't know that his beloved Angel had died last year.  Old men don't live
long after they lose their wives, and Paul was no exception (Johnny Cash
died not long after June, and my own grandfather died not long after we lost
my grandmother).

I grew up listening to Mr. Harvey and was happy to get my own car so I could
set the AM side to whatever station carried him back then.  Paul's style
behind the microphone was unigue - copied but never duplicated.  He was the
master of the pregnant pause and the stutter for effect.  I looked forward
to his Friday morning broadcast more than any other..."Good morning,
Americans!  It's Friiiday!"

Right after I started my newspaper, Paul scheduled an appearance at an event
in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., so I called his Chicago office and asked if it would
be possible to drive up and interview him for a story (more than anything, I
just wanted to meet him).  The lady asked how much time I needed and said
that she would get back to me after checking with Mr. Harvey.  I requested a
half hour.  She called me back that afternoon, and said, "Mr. Harvey looks
forward to meeting you in Pigeon Forge.  A half hour is fine."  The morning
I was scheduled to drive up, my wife's grandfather, a decorated WWII vet,
died, and I had to cancel our interview.

I plan to listen to Rush Limbaugh tomorrow.  Every radio personality alive
today, conservative or otherwise, stands on Paul Harvey's shoulders, so I'll
be interested to hear Rush's take on Mr. Harvey's death.

It's hard to characterize Mr. Harvey's death as a tragedy; he was 90 years
old and heartbroken over losing his wife to whom he was so devoted.  I
remember vividly his doing a commercial for a breath mint some years ago.
"I like to keept them handy in case Angel wants to stop by for a kiss."

Another standout memory is this.  After I completed ROTC advanced camp at
Fort Bragg, I was home listening to Paul and he said this.  "Around the
country, young men and women have just completed their ROTC camps at
military installations in North Carolina, Kansas and Washington state.
There, they learned the basics of serving the country as officers in our
military.  The government spent $25 million on these camps.  (pause)  Small
price to pay for life insurance."

RIP, Mr. Harvey.  You lived a good life, sir.

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