By Mike Kaszuba
The Minnesota Senate bade farewell Saturday to WCCO-AM radio reporter Eric Eskola, who is retiring after 25 years of covering the State Capitol.
Standing on the floor of the Senate in a blue blazer, Eskola waved as the state's senators gave him two standing ovations. "I've spent more hours with you than I have with my family," said Eskola. "I'm speechless and deeply honored."
Taking turns reading a Senate resolution, several senators spoke of Eskola's long service covering the Legislature and his "over-stuffed museum-like office, complete with a moose head on the wall" in the Capitol basement. As he read one part of the resolution, Senate Minority Leader David Senjem wore a red and white scarf much like the trademark scarves that Eskola always wore at the Capitol.
The resolution read in part: "It is widely recognized that many a Capitol employee. . .became a loyal WCCO listener because of Eric Eskola."
