Famous Louisvillians: Bob Edwards (#10)

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Good morning! Welcome to a short week, or a long week, depending on whether you’re working or locked down. I’m enjoying leftovers for lunch and getting ready to spring another Louisville native on you. Here’s today’s Louisvillian. #10: Bob Edwards Ooh, that voice. Bob Edwards has one of those voices. It’s not “distinct” or something that someone can easily impersonate, and yet it is distinct. Edwards was born and raised here, attending one of the two local behemoth Catholic high schools (St. X [the other one is Trinity, if you’re interested...or even if you’re not ]) and working at a small radio station in New Albany (right across the river) before joining the Army. After the Army he worked in various radio stations and joined National Public Radio (NPR), where he became a legend. He became so popular that, when NPR decided to replace him as host of Morning Edition, they were met with a loud outcry. Edwards won the Peabody Award for Morning Edition in 1999, and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004. Although NPR no longer wanted him on the air, he’s hardly retired. He hosted a show on Sirius/XM for years after leaving the air on NPR. Today he does podcasts for AARP. And he’s proudly a Louisville native! PS: in the worthless trivia department, although Edwards earned a Master’s degree from American University in Washington he has several honorary degrees, including one from my alma mater, Spalding University! Bob Edwards Born Robert Alan Edwards May 16, 1947 Radio Hall of Fame broadcast journalist best-known as host of NPR’s Morning Edition A brief clip from University of Kentucky Press touting Edwards’ autobiography: