Former KARE 11 reporter Brad Woodard, 51, passed away at his home in Houston on Wednesday. Brad worked at KARE 11 from 1990 to 2006 before moving to Houston to work at KHOU.
Authorities discovered his body Wednesday morning after a relative called police to check on him after Brad failed to return several phone calls. Investigators say there was no evidence of foul play.
Brad was known at KARE for his love of animals and his dedication to journalism.
His work was recognized with numerous international, national and regional awards. During his career he won more than 20 Emmy awards and in 2008 won the National Press Club Award.
While at KARE 11 Brad received numerous awards including a 2005 Silver World Medal from the New York Festivals and 1998 and 2005 awards at the Houston International Film Festival.
Other national awards include 1994, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2007 Genesis Awards, now administered by the Humane Society of the United States, for his investigative reports exposing cruelty to animals used in research and in the production of drugs.
Brad was the 1998 recipient of the National Epilepsy Foundation Distinguished Journalism Award for his story about the life of a 10-year-old boy living with epilepsy.
A native of Hayesville, NC, Brad received his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia in 1984. He was also a graduate of the Pushkin Institute for Russian Language in Moscow.
He will be best remembered at KARE for his sense of humor and his thoughtful storytelling whether he was covering the homeless, animals in need, Jane Goodall or even Sturgis.
Here you can watch just a few of his many stories that he covered during his 16 years at KARE. Click the links below:
