Arkansas has lost one of its most beloved broadcasters.
Billy Jack “B.J.” Sams, whose warm smile and trusted voice became part of daily life for generations of Arkansans, passed away on June 25, 2026, at the age of 91.
For more than 55 years in broadcasting, including 27 memorable years at THV11, B.J. Sams helped define television news in Arkansas. Alongside Robyn Richardson and Chief Meteorologist Tom Brannon, he helped build one of the highest-rated and most beloved morning news programs in the state’s history.
But those who knew B.J. best say his greatest accomplishments came away from the television cameras.
Following each day’s newscast, B.J. quietly volunteered at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, rocking babies with no expectation of recognition or praise. Acts of kindness like that reflected the character of the man Arkansas welcomed into their homes every morning.
Born in 1935 in the hills of East Tennessee, Sams began his broadcasting career as a teenage janitor at a Knoxville radio station before earning the nickname “B.J. the DJ.” Following service as a broadcast specialist in the U.S. Army, he launched a television career that eventually brought him to Arkansas.
His life was forever changed by unimaginable tragedy while living in Hawaii when a small airplane carrying him, his son Billy Jack Jr., and a pilot crashed into the side of a mountain. Although B.J. survived, his only son died in the crash. That heartbreaking loss strengthened his Christian faith, leading him to spend decades sharing his testimony in churches and community gatherings across Arkansas, offering hope to countless people facing their own struggles.
Throughout his remarkable career, B.J. received nearly every honor in Arkansas broadcasting, including induction into the Arkansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Walk of Fame, and the Mid-America Emmy Gold Circle for lifetime achievement. In 2003, THV11 renamed its primary studio the B.J. Sams Studio in recognition of his extraordinary contributions.
Friends remember B.J. not only for his professionalism but for his kindness, humility, unmistakable laugh, and unwavering faith. He mentored young journalists, encouraged coworkers, faithfully served at Immanuel Baptist Church, and inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Tributes continue pouring in from across Arkansas remembering not only a legendary broadcaster, but an extraordinary man whose impact reached far beyond television.
Arkansas didn’t simply watch B.J. Sams report history.
He became part of Arkansas history.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Anne, Robyn Richardson, Tom Brannon, the entire THV11 family, and all who loved and admired B.J. Sams.
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