After 40+ years, WCCO photojournalist Brad Earley calls it a career

Longtime WCCO photojournalist Brad Earley gets ready for retirement 04:10

MINNEAPOLIS — After more than 40 years on the job, one of our favorite WCCO photographers is getting ready to retire.

Brad Earley has done it all during his time at the station, covering sports, news and pretty much anything that was asked of him.

John Lauritsen shows us what’s made Earley such a good worker and a good friend.

Dec. 28, 1981 was the day Earley walked into WCCO. And it also happened to be his birthday.

“I’m rolling down, pushing 43 years, but I still remember my first hour like it was yesterday,” said Earley.

It was the beginning of a career that, at times, felt surreal for a kid from northeast Minneapolis. When the station needed something, Earley was there.

From covering bombings in Tel Aviv, Israel during the Gulf War to covering the 35W Bridge Collapse in his own backyard. Earley was one of the first photographers on scene.

“The destruction was unbelievable, but it was dead silent. Not even a siren had started yet,” said Earley.

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