SEATTLE — KING 5 is mourning the loss of our longtime sports photojournalist, Alan Reed, who passed away in late March.
Reed was much more than a coworker to us - he was a friend, and we were his family.
He spent more than 22 years at KING 5, starting as a general assignment photojournalist before moving into the sports department.
Reed was a "multimedia journalist" before it became an official title. He would spend countless hours in the field, often by himself, shooting games, doing interviews and gathering story ideas.
Reed covered every major sporting event and story in Seattle for two decades and had a hand in countless awards at KING 5, but even more important was how much he meant to all of us.
He was an integral part of everything KING 5 Sports did, an older brother in a close-knit team.
Reed set a standard the rest of the sports team could only hope to live up to, with a tireless work ethic and encyclopedic knowledge of sports at all levels.
He was authentic, one of a kind and a bit of a mystery to some people at KING 5, spending a lot more time out covering sports than in the office.
Most of all Reed really, really loved his job. He loved being around the coaches and players – many of whom knew him by name.
He was a recognizable face at practices, press conferences and games. With his silver hair, round face, and, often, a big smile, it seemed like Reed was always there.
Now, he will always be in our hearts.
Note: This story was originally published on March 26, 2024.
