Forrest Carr, a longtime television news director whose career included two stints with KGUN9, died Wednesday morning.
His wife, Deborah Carr, announced his passing on Facebook:
It is with a very heavy heart, that I report that my dear, beloved Forrest Carrpassed away early this morning after a valiant battle with cancer. Forrest loved life, and, in many ways, had a larger-than-life personality. Even at the final moments, he was smiling and sharing his unique brand of humor. I want to thank you, friends near and far, for your prayers and your kindness to Forrest and I these past difficult months. Forrest made many friends along his life's journey, and I know he would want me to tell you how much he loved you all. Peace be with you.
Forrest Carr was the news director for KGUN from 1997 through 2001 and held the news director position for a second time from 2009 through 2013.
While News Director at KGUN9, Carr launched the innovative "Viewers' Bill of Rights" and was the man behind the "On Your Side" brand.
Carr graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in May of 1980.
After a brief stint as a radio reporter, Carr switched to television, beginning as a copy writer and fill-in reporter before moving into newscast producing.
Carr became a TV news director in 1997 and worked in the Memphis, San Antonio, Tampa, Fort Myers, Albuquerque, and Tucson television markets.
Carr has received or shared credit in more than 90 professional awards, including a Suncoast Regional Emmy for investigative reporting, two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for investigative reporting, a Walter Cronkite large-market station award for excellence in television political journalism, and most recently, a national Edward R. Murrow station award for best website.
Carr was the author of the crime/newsroom novel Messages and the sci-fi novel A Journal of the Crazy Year, and is a co-author of Broadcast News Handbook, a college textbook published by McGraw-Hill, now in its fifth edition.
Most recently, Carr hosted an AM talk radio show on Powertalk 1210, but halted that afternoon program last spring as his cancer metastasized.
Carr battled transitional cell carcinoma and was open about his experiences, both discussing his health and impending death on air and blogging about it.
Services for Carr are pending.
