Jim Eikner, whose courtly charm and debonair zest for life loomed large in Memphis' media sphere, died Wednesday at age 82. He had been the voice and face of WKNO-TV for nearly three decades.
Nearly 30 years ago, Jim Eikner was asked about hosting WKNO-TV’s very first pledge drive.
As he remembered the story in a recent interview: "I asked, 'What do I do?' and (the producer) said, 'Well, you just get on live television…and you ask for money' 'I do what?!' and he said, 'You ask for money.' 'I don’t sell Fuller Brushes or Tupperware or something, I just ASK for money?' and he said, 'That’s right.'"
That began Eikner’s so-called retirement job as marketing manager at WKNO, becoming the face and voice of public television in Memphis.
Eikner passed away Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 82.
A native Memphian, James Edward Eikner, Jr. attended Messick High School, and then went to Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College), where he met his wife Margaret Ann Fagan, who predeceased him in 2012. He got experience as a radio disc jockey while attending law school at UT Knoxville.
While working as a Memphis public defender and later in private law practice, he co-directed the Memphis Gridiron Show with the late Berl Olswanger for 10 years.
Known for his sharp attire, courtly air and a trove of corny jokes, he used his voice and charisma wherever it was needed – to emcee charity events or make silly cameos on public television shows such as WKNO’s “Professor Ghoul’s Horror School.”
As the current president of the Rotary Club of Memphis, Eikner brought new energy and life to the organization.
“He would lead us in song several times, and he would always do something or say something to make us laugh,” said Rotary past president Pierre Landaiche.
Laughter was Eikner’s main stock-in-trade, along with a grand sense of the dramatic. He often performed on Memphis community theater stages -- in musicals such as “Into the Woods” and dramas such as 2013’s “On Golden Pond” at Germantown Community Theatre.
WKNO president and CEO Michael LaBonia noted that Eikner was one of Memphis' true Renaissance Men.
“He was one of the most gifted people I have ever met,” LaBonia said. “I mean, he was a writer, an actor, a singer, a great public speaker, an artist, and I mean, he literally could do all kinds of things. To be honest, I was always envious of all those skills he had.”
He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Giant Rats of Sumatra, and the Egyptians. At the time of his passing, he had just begun to teach himself to play the banjo uke.
He is survived by his sister, Jean Allen, a son, Flip Eikner, two daughters, Maury Tower and Maggie Lee, and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to WKNO, Rhodes College, and Idlewild Presbyterian Church.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
