Matthew B. Eppard

Brad was my "go to" person on all things fish-related and whenever I had questions or was working on projects, especially those that were a little unusual and I needed to bounce some ideas around. Typically these discussions included a little ribbing by Brad followed by some laughs. His smile, laughter and good nature will be missed at work. My condolences to his family, especially to his daughters that he talked about with so much pride.

Brad and I met in the early 1990s when we both worked for the NOAA Fisheries Pasco Field Station. Some of the projects we worked on together included juvenile salmon and steelhead passage and survival studies at dams on the Snake River as well as Steve Achord´s wild fish PIT-tagging study in Idaho. While in Idaho, Brad and I enjoyed many days camping and fishing together. Besides work, we shared time in the field hunting upland birds before he moved to the west side. This picture is approximately 1996 when we both harvested our limits of pheasants thanks to help from Brad´s dog Cain and my dog Magic. I will miss Brad´s friendship and abundant humor.

I worked with Brad on a lot of fish projects. He loved his daughters so much! I asked for updates all the time. He would just smile and let me know all that was going on with them. As I was driving home today, I got this and was so sad that he passed at 56. I send a huge hug to Samantha and Sylvia and the rest of the family who will never be the same without him. Natalie Richards, Retired PM

I always enjoyed working with Brad. We had nice conversations on a few road trips for work. He was always cheerful and funny and so genuinely nice everytime I encountered him.. I hope you are enjoying a never empty labor code in heaven Brad. You are already missed.

With Brad about 1992 in the hot springs of the East Fork of the Salmon River on one of our Idaho Trips. Miss ya bud. Gone too soon