A Viroqua native and noted television news director credited with developing the local television 5 p.m. evening news program, passed away over the weekend.

John Hoffland, who was news director at WEAU-TV in Eau Claire for 25 years, died after having a heart attack at his home in Eau Claire, Saturday morning. He was 64 years old.

A graduate of Viroqua High School, Hoffland served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. After his service, he went into journalism and was a radio and television reporter in La Crosse and eastern Iowa. In 1978, Hoffland became the first news producer at WEAU, later being named news director.

In 1981, he developed a new television news broadcast at 5 p.m. each day. That practice has become a common practice for almost every local television station in the nation.

In 2002 he was honored by the Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Association with the Carol Brewer Award for outstanding service to broadcast journalism.

He is survived by his wife, Penny, and a son, Lukas.

—Associated Press

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