Gene Stewart, a reporter for KARK in the 1970’s and 80’s, died Tuesday of complications from surgery.
Stewart worked for the Little Rock, AR, NBC affiliate twice. In 1971 he joined the station as a reporter, night editor and producer.
According to his obituary he left KARK in 1977 to be a patrol sergeant and PIO for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.
For several years, Gene flew the daily traffic watch over Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County in all types of weather. The reports were carried on several Little Rock area radio stations, and “Sgt. Gene’s” air traffic reports were depended on by thousands of motorists.
He went back to KARK in 1981 and stayed until 1988 when he started his own production company, “Gene Stewart Video.”
According to KARK, “When contacted a few years ago about working at the station, Gene told us that KARK was ‘still in his heart and soul’ and that it was a great place to work. Gene also recalled staffers saying ‘showtime’ when it was time for a newscast to begin, and he said seeing KARK videos from that time period always brought back that excitement.”
Gene Stewart was 71.