Let's hear it for an on-air legend - Portland Tribune
Art Eckman will be inducted today into Washington State Universitys Edward R. Murrow Alumni Hall of Achievement, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding alumni in the college of communication. Its a great feeling to be honored for your career when youre my age, says Eckman, 73, a Portland native whose roots in the City of Roses run deep. During Eckmans graduation ceremony from Washington State in 1964, Murrow the legendary broadcaster for whom many national communications awards are named spoke at the commencement. I got a chance to talk to him, which was a thrill, says Eckman, an Atlanta resident since 1978. I always tried to follow his journalistic creed of credibility and giving the correct information. Old-timers remember the rich-voiced Eckman as a television and radio broadcaster in the 1960s and as the radio play-by-play voice for Oregon State football and basketball between a pair of legends Bob Blackburn and Darrell Aune. Eckman attended Portlands Ockley Green School from kindergarten through eighth grade with another big sports name Terry Baker, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy at Oregon State. Eckman graduated with Baker in the 1959 class at Jefferson High. Terry and I were in a speech class together when we were sophomores when they announced an audition for sportscasters at KBPS radio, Eckman recalls. Upon graduation from WSU, Eckman was hired as a news reporter by KOIN. Source: portlandtribune.com
