[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             RECOGNIZING ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP BROADCASTERS

                                 ______


                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 1994

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, a week ago today, one of America's truly 
great broadcasters made a trip to New York to receive an award for 
lifetime achievement. Not just any award, but radio and television's 
most prestigious--the Peabody Award.
  That Paul Harvey should receive the electronic media's equivalent of 
the Pulitzer Prize should come as no surprise really. Nor should it be 
a shock to anyone that the city council of Chicago recently adopted a 
resolution commending him for his work. For 61 years now, ever since he 
began his career at KVOO in Tulsa, OK, Paul Harvey has been a fixture 
in radio and in the Midwest. His resonant voice has been heard over the 
ABC Radio Network for the past 42 years and his news programs have been 
daily fare for several generations of Americans. Broadcast out of 
Chicago, they reach an estimated 24 million people each week. For many 
of those people, they offer the clearest, most interesting and down-to-
earth presentation of the news on the air today.
  Being a Midwesterner myself, I have a particular appreciation and 
admiration not just for what Paul Harvey has done but also for how he 
has done it. Rather than abandon the heartland and heartfelt values of 
America, he has remained true to both in a way that must be heard to be 
appreciated. Instead of dwelling on all that is bad in the news, he has 
endeavored to bring out the best in the news and the rest of the story. 
And he has been successful to a far greater extent than he would ever 
admit. Would-be news professionals would do well to follow the example 
he has so illustriously set.
  Anyone questioning that advice need look only at the criteria for, 
and history of, the George Foster Peabody Award given Paul Harvey last 
Monday to put their doubts to rest. First awarded in 1941 to honor 
excellence in radio, Peabody's are only given to a select few each year 
to recognize outstanding performance, programming, and achievement. In 
fact, fewer than 1,000 Peabody Awards have been handed out in the past 
50 years, the winners being drawn from the ranks of America's greatest 
radio and TV personalities. Previous recipients include such notable 
news figures as Edward R. Murrow, Chet Huntley, and Walter Cronkite--in 
whose company Paul Harvey most certainly belongs. He has made a 
tremendous contribution and been a terrific credit to the news 
profession for many years, and it is great to see him get the 
recognition he so richly deserves.
  Congratulations Paul Harvey, and may your ``Good Days'' continue for 
many more years to come.

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