"Angel" Harvey Dies at 92

From Wednesday's Robert Feder column in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Heartfelt condolences to Paul Harvey on the passing of his beloved wife and guiding light, Lynne "Angel" Harvey. More than his astute business partner and producer, she also was a pioneer for women in radio and an influential figure in her own right for decades.

Mrs. Harvey died of leukemia Saturday at their west suburban River Forest home. She was 92.Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, 126 E. Chestnut.

This also from The Chicago Sun-Times:

Producer for radio legend husband dies
Hall of Fame inductee credited with Paul Harvey's success, created prototype for today's talk shows

May 4, 2008; BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter

She was the angel by his side.

That's how legendary radio broadcaster Paul Harvey often described his wife, business partner and producer of more than 60 years, Lynne "Angel" Harvey.

Lynne Harvey died Saturday in the Harveys' River Forest home after a yearlong battle with leukemia.

Mrs. Harvey was the first producer to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, in 1997. She is also credited with helping turn her husband into one of the biggest success stories in broadcast history.

"She was to Paul Harvey what Colonel Parker was to Elvis Presley," said Bruce DuMont, founder of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. "She really put him on track to have the phenomenal career that his career has been."
'Love at first sight'

Born Lynne Cooper, Mrs. Harvey was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Louis' Washington University.

She met Paul Harvey while working as an on-air personality at a radio station in St. Louis. He was the station's special events commentator.

"It was love at first sight," DuMont said. "I've never met two people who were as madly in love as they were."

The couple married in 1940 and moved to Chicago in 1945.

Mrs. Harvey became her husband's producer shortly after their marriage, handling the behind-the-scenes responsibilities for the No. 1-rated "Paul Harvey News and Comment" show.

It was her idea in the late 1940s to air Harvey's news broadcasts at 10 p.m. -- now the standard time for evening news. She also developed Harvey's best-known feature, "The Rest of the Story."
Found her own success

While her focus was on nurturing her husband's career, Mrs. Harvey found success in her own right, as well.

For instance, she created a television program called "Dilemma" that became a prototype for today's talk-show genre. And she was one of the nation's first women to run an entire broadcast while working at a CBS affiliate.

In addition to her Hall of Fame honor, Mrs. Harvey was also the first recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Chicago chapter of American Women in Radio and Television.

DuMont said Mrs. Harvey was a generous philanthropist whose death is "a devastating loss to the industry, to Paul Harvey and to people who love Paul Harvey."

Mrs. Harvey is also survived by her son, Paul Harvey Jr., another member of the Radio Hall of Fame.