Paul Harvey: Major American Journalist

By Michael Canaday

Both the American people and all his radio contemporaries will surely miss his daily news and opinionated commentary at noon starting with his catch phrase: "stand by." Harvey's unique voice that had a calming effect on his listeners. He often based his commentary on a simple, current story that invoked a larger complex social issue.

For a complex thinker, it seemed always important that he did not exculed anyone. Because his addresses exuded a sense of honesty and sincerety, audiences trusted him. He had a natural way about him that made him believable and respected, which is often absent in journalism today.

Harvey recieved of over 50 different awards during his lifetime. President George W. Bush in 2005 presented to him the Presidental Medal of Honor. He was also published several times, and this is an indicator of his popularity.

Paul Harvey (1918-2009) one of a kind, Americas voice.








Paul Harvey was born in 1918 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Harvey was a true American radio icon who aired for fifty years on ABC with over 25 million daily listeners.

Harvey's career began in high school as a radio journalist on KVOO. Later he came to St. Louis and became the special events director and newsman at KXOK. There he met his wife, whom he always referred to as "Angel".

When they met, Harvey was interviewing her for a school news interview. Harvey was so enamored with her that he proposed to her that same day. Angel was a graduate of Washington University with A.B. and M.A., and she had several national news awards already to her credit.

After their marriage, they both moved to Chicago, a broadcasting "mecca" at that time. Harvey accepted a post for the 10 p.m. news slot with a new syndication called "News by Paul Harvey". His wife was the producer and general manager. Their combined sucess really took off from there.

In 1968, the Harveys' began a new television series "Paul Harvey Comments". This series ran successfully for the next 25 years with Angel Harvey at his side. In later days, Harvey always gave addresses broadcast on ABC and its affiliated radio stations at noon; they always made listeners think and were clearly based on logical reason.