Radio announcer Paul Harvey was the voice of radio’s Golden Era, with a booming, crystal clear voice that greeted listeners for six decades. His name became synonymous with radio broadcasting throughout his period, as a kind voice that people listened to with great admiration. He was a favorite of not just the general public but also the many corporations whose products he supported on the radio. He was equally famous for his method of delivering news as he was for presenting advertising. His radio shows were listened by over 24 million people each week, demonstrating his enormous popularity. He is regarded as the godfather of radio broadcasting because of his sharp voice and distinct speaking style. He was an extremely energetic and hardworking man who began working before the sun rose. Even when he was in his nineties, he maintained his dedication and enthusiasm for his career. He was a conservative, and his speeches reflected his right-wing political views, but what set him apart from other broadcasters was the plain language he used, as well as the stories he recounted about everyday life in America, which helped people relate to him. His style had a “folksy” quality to it, which is why he was one of America’s most popular radio hosts.
Childhood and Adolescence
On September 4, 1918, he was born Paul Harvey Aurandt to Harry Harrison Aurandt and Anna Dagmar. He had a sister who was a year or two older than him.
Paul’s father was a police officer who was killed by robbers when he was just three years old.
He went to Central High School in Tulsa. Isabelle Ronan, a teacher at the school, was blown away by his voice and saw his potential as a future radio host.
In 1933, Ronan brought him to KVOO radio station and recommended him to the station manager. He was only 14 at the time, and he was initially instructed to assist with the cleanup. He was eventually authorized to read ads before being entrusted with reading the news.
He went on to the University of Tulsa to further his study. He worked at KVOO even while he was studying there. He began his career as an announcer before moving on to become a program director.
Career of Paul Harvey
He joined the radio station KFBI AM as a station manager when he was just 19 years old (later renamed as KFDI). He landed a position as a newscaster at KOMA in Oklahoma City after three years there.
He got a job as a reporter and Director of Special Events at KXOX in St. Louis in 1938. This location proved to be extremely fortunate for him because it was here that he met the woman he would eventually marry.
As a reporter, he traveled to Hawaii to chronicle the actions of the US Navy as it concentrated its fleet in the Pacific. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour during this period.
In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, although he only served for a few months, from December 1943 to March 1944, when he was dismissed. The reasons for his dismissal remain unknown.
In 1944, he relocated to Chicago after serving in the army. In 1945, he began working for the ABC affiliate WENR, where he hosted the postwar employment show ‘Jobs for G.I. Joe.’ The next year, he began including a feature called “The Rest of the Story” in his newscasts.
In April 1951, he started his commentary and analysis piece, ‘Paul Harvey News and Comment.’ He’d stick with the program until his death, which was several decades later.
During the 1960s, he began recording five-minute TV editorials for local stations to use in their programming.
‘The Rest of the Story,’ his radio feature, had grown so successful that it was decided to turn it into a stand-alone series. On May 10, 1976, ABC Radio Networks broadcasted the first episode of the series, which lasted until the broadcaster’s death.
Harvey was well-known for presenting commercials on the radio in addition to his radio programs. While reading the commercials, he would be so convincing and assured that he gained a following among the sponsors.
Major Projects of Paul Harvey
He is most known for hosting the feature ‘The Rest of the Story,’ which began as a component of his newscasts before becoming a stand-alone series. The show was so successful that it lasted until Harvey’s death at the age of 90.
Achievements & Awards
In 1983, he received the Horatio Alger Award, which is given to remarkable Americans for their personal dedication, purpose, and tenacity.
President George W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in 2005.
Personal History and Legacy
While working at KXOX, he met Lynne Cooper, a schoolteacher. He proposed to her on their first date after falling in love with her at their first meeting! In 1940, they married and had a son. Until Lynne’s death, the couple remained blissfully married.
Even in his later years, he remained highly busy, delivering shows far into his late eighties. He died in 2009, at the age of 90, after a long and busy life.
Paul Harvey’s Net Worth
At the time of his death in 2009, Paul Harvey was an American radio broadcaster with a net worth of $150 million. Paul Harvey was born in September 1918 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and died in February 2009. He was employed by ABC Radio Networks. Harvey was well-known for his News and Comment show, as well as his The Rest of the Story segments. From 1952 to 2008, his radio shows reached over 20 million people each week. His Paul Harvey News was heard on 1,200 radio stations, 400 American Forces Network stations, and 300 newspapers across the country. Harvey wrote various works, including The Rest of the Story by Paul Harvey. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He got his start in radio when he was 14 years old, helping to clean up a station. Paul Harvey died on February 28, 2009, at the age of 90.