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Opry fan hasn’t missed weekend show in 42 years

By WTOP Staff

LUCAS L. JOHNSON II
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Paul Eckhart hasn’t missed a weekend performance at the Grand Ole Opry in 42 years, but at age 83 he has decided to give up the night life.

Eckhart, whose dedication has won him a designated parking space backstage, a plaque on his customary stage-front pew and close friendships with numerous country artists, says he will “retire” this weekend.

“Everything has got to come to an end sooner or later anyway,” he said. “I thought this was a good time.”

The Opry is planning to honor him before and throughout the show on Saturday.

“We’re going to take time out in the show and kind of let the world know that we think the world of this man,” said Pete Fisher, the Opry’s vice president and general manager. “And just give him one big public thank you.”

Eckhart, a retired certified public accountant, began attending Opry shows in late June 1972 and has been coming back ever since. He now gets what Fisher calls a “loyalty discount” on ticket purchases.

However, he’s actually been a fan of the Opry since he was 6. Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, Eckhart would pick it up on his family’s battery-powered radio with a big antenna rigged out back.

Years later he met his wife, Kitty, and the couple made a few trips to the Opry with group tours before deciding to move to Nashville.

“I was getting close to 40 … and I talked to her and said would you consider ever moving to Nashville?” recalled Eckhart, who’s now been married 61 years. “She said, ‘Well, let’s do it before we get too old.'”

Eckhart started going to the Opry on Fridays and switched to Saturdays about 15 years ago. He said he and his wife worked out an arrangement that allowed him to attend the Opry, and her to enjoy her pastime — bingo.

“We made a promise and we’ve kept that promise all these years, that I will go with her at least half a dozen times a year, but not on a Saturday night, and she will go with me to the Grand Ole Opry, but not on a Saturday night,” Eckhart said. “We’ve had a great marriage.”

Eckhart — who boasts of having at least 11,000 country music albums — said he likes the “old timers” best of all, like Charley Pride, Ricky Skaggs and Bill Anderson. He said his favorite female country singer is Connie Smith, and the late Faron Young is his favorite male performer.

However, Eckhart said he also has some young favorites, like Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner and Brad Paisley.

He said his all-time favorite show was the Opry’s 75th anniversary, which featured country superstars Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Charley Pride and Garth Brooks.

Even though he’s retiring, as his vertigo now makes it difficult for him to walk, Eckhart said, “It doesn’t mean I won’t be going to the Opry again.”

It just won’t be every weekend.

But considering he’ll be 84 in October, he said 42 years of the Grand Ole Opry felt like a good stopping point.

“That’s exactly half of my life,” he said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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