Brad Swenson

by Scott Hall

We lost a fine, hard working journalist when Brad Swenson died on July 22nd.  During his 31 years at the Bemidji Pioneer Brad was a reporter, managing editor, political editor, and editorial writer.  He performed all those roles with the passion required to meet the civic purpose and high standards of journalism.  Brad earned the trust of his readers and sources which enabled him to do some of the best political reporting in northern Minnesota.  I had the chance to work with Brad on the political debates sponsored by Lakeland Public Television.  Brad had a command of the issues and the background knowledge to ask the best questions and he did it with a grace and ease that I admired very much. Brad was on KAXE a few times over the years, but his true passion was print journalism. We will miss him very much.