Veteran Arkansas television news anchor B.J. Sams has died at the age of 91, ending a broadcasting career that spanned more than five decades and earned him a lasting place in the state’s media history.
Billy Jack “B.J.” Sams passed away on June 25, 2026. During more than 55 years in broadcasting, including 27 years at THV11 in Little Rock, he became one of Arkansas’ most recognized and trusted television personalities. Generations of viewers welcomed him into their homes through his work on the station’s morning newscasts.
Sams helped build one of Arkansas’ highest-rated morning news programs alongside co-anchor Robyn Richardson and Chief Meteorologist Tom Brannon. His calm delivery, warm personality, and steady presence made him a familiar face for viewers across the state.
B.J. Sams Lived A Long And Prosperous Career
His broadcasting career began in East Tennessee, where he worked as a teenage janitor at a Knoxville radio station before moving behind the microphone and earning the nickname “B.J. the DJ.”…