Paul Harvey: Christian morals and patriotism

All of the American soldiers at that missile site in South Korea stopped talking, turned their music down and started listening when these familiar words were broadcast on the public address system: “Hello Americans. This is Paul Harvey. Stand by … for news!”

As a U.S. Army chaplain, I was in Korea at that missile site visiting my men in 1976-1977.  

All of us tuned in to this respected broadcaster who was heard over Armed Forces Radio wherever American servicemen and women were stationed. During his 70 years of radio broadcasting, he was the most listened to voice in America. 

He brought both the grand and the commonplace news to America.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1918, his father was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty when Harvey  was just 3 years old. Thus, Harvey was always a friend and supporter of police officers all over America. 

He and his family were Presbyterians.

Harvey  had the gift of oratory from his youth, and thanks to a grade school English teacher, Miss Rowan, his elocution, enunciation and verbal skills were fined-tuned. 

These God-given gifts were recognized by a local station when Harvey was only 14, and his long radio, later TV, career began … at age 14!

He attended the University of Tulsa for about a year and then went to Salina, Kansas, at age 19 to continue his radio broadcasting. 

While in Salina he was befriended by Mennonite Christians who introduced him to John 3:16. 

That verse went from being a familiar quote to an invitation accepted by Harvey. So, at the age of 19, he knelt at his bedside and yielded his life to Jesus Christ.

“He had found an anchor for his soul.” (from the 2009 biography “Paul Harvey’s America” by Stephen Mansfield and David Holland).

He had a passion for God and for the American people … patriotism for certain. During World War II, he volunteered for the Army Aviation Cadet Program and was called up for pilot training in 1943, but an injury in basic training led to his being honorably discharged from the Army in 1944.

In 1939, he was introduced to his future wife, Lynn Cooper, nicknamed “Angel,” and they married in 1940.

Angel was an English major in college with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and became Harvey’s helpmate and producer for his many years in broadcasting, principally employed by ABC News.

Harvey and Angel prayed together for God’s guidance on their road of life. After 68 years of marriage, Angel died in 2008. 

Harvey died in 2009.

In 1971, something interesting and revealing occurred when he and Angel were on vacation in Arizona. They were driving in the country on a Sunday morning when they stopped to worship at a small church.

During that service Harvey came under conviction and went forward at the invitation to rededicate his life to Christ and to request baptism by emersion.

He was baptized that evening in a nearby baptismal pond, and said that he had received more joy from the Lord and from that day on he more openly talked about his Christian faith … unashamedly.

This brief sketch concludes with one his statements: “The birds are awake while the morning is still asleep so the sun can come up to music.”

And that’s the rest of the story … Paul Harvey … Good day!

Peace!