Veteran broadcaster Bob Edwards is no more. The prolific media man and pioneer of the “Morning Edition” on National Public Radio finally laid down the baton at the ripe age of 76. The radio station announced the passing of their foremost broadcaster on Monday.
In a statement by NPR CEO John Lansing, he pointed out that Edwards was in the radio station’s service for 24 and a half years of his life. Edwards first joined NPR in 1974 as a newscaster and, over time, became the voice NPR fans wake up to each morning.
Describing how much Edwards contributed to what NPR is today, Lansing said of him, “Bob Edwards understood the intimate and distinctly personal connection with audiences that distinguishes audio journalism from other mediums, and for decades, he was a trusted voice in the lives of millions of public radio listeners.”
After contacting Edwards’s family, they told NBC News of the veteran broadcaster’s peaceful passing on Saturday. He was in the company of his wife, daughters, and NPR colleague, Windsor Johnston.
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The family did not reveal the cause of death. However, Edwards’ wife explained to NBC how emotional, calm, and peaceful his final moments were. Johnston would later write of the experience, “He smiled as we played the well wishes, loving memories and messages of healing that you all so kindly took the time to record for him.” Some fans and colleagues of Edwards apparently recorded farewell messages for him.
Undoubtedly, Bob Edwards left a lasting mark on the broadcasting world. Edwards’ biography at the Radio Hall of Fame clearly lays out the timeline of his broadcasting career.
While it remains true that Edwards joined NPR in 1974, his broadcasting career started way earlier. He was born in 1947 in Kentucky and got his first broadcasting experience at a local Indiana radio station. While in Korea, he also worked with the Armed Forces Radio and Television.
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Upon joining NPR in 1974, Edwards worked with Susan Stamberg as co-host of a new program, “All Things Considered,” at the station. However, NPR also launched the “Morning Edition,” and before long, Edwards became the show’s trademark voice.
For his long span of “Morning Edition” career, Edwards has earned three prestigious awards and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004. That same year of his induction, NPR replaced him as the host of “Morning Edition.” However, that move earned NPR backlashes from various quarters.
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Listeners voiced their displeasure, newspaper editorials condemned his removal. In fact, a sitting US Senator, Dick Durbin, raised the issue on the Senate floor. Most of the members of Congress resonated with Durbin and asked for an explanation from NPR about Edwards’ removal.
To justify the change in the host of “Morning Edition,” NPR management claimed Edwards was now a senior correspondent. According to higher-ups at NPR, reshuffling hosts was a strategy for refreshing the Network’s broadcast.
However, Edwards left NPR not long after and moved to X Satellite Radio, where he started a show of his own. Bob Edwards was the proud author of three books, one of which is his autobiography.
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