Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
B. J. Sams
Television Broadcast
| | Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024
1. B. J. Sams Marker
Over 50 years in broadcast One of the most recognizable faces in the State 1966 joined KATV which soon became the No. 1 Station in the market Worked at KHON in Honolulu Returned to Little Rock in 1982 as anchor on KTHV Earned many newscast awards from AP and UP 2000 Broadcaster of the Year 2007 Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame
Little Rock, Arkansas Inducted 2012
Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 34° 30.653′ N, 93° 3.232′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Central Avenue (State Highway 7) just north of Spring Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk on the north side of the Hot Springs City Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Central Avenue, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Paul Runyan (here, next to this marker); Robert Holthus (here, next to this marker); Freeman Harrison Owens (here, next to this marker); Brent M. Jennings (here, next to this marker);
this page online
Also see . . .
1. B. J. Sams (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Billy Jack Sams (born March 19, 1935) was an anchor for "Today's THV This Morning", now called "THV 11 News This Morning", the morning news show for KTHV-TV, the local CBS-affiliated television station in Little Rock, Arkansas. He had been in broadcasting for more than 50 years. The show has repeatedly ranked number one in the market. B.J. Sams came to KTHV after years of anchoring news at KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii where he served as main anchor for several years in the 1970s, after serving from 1964-70 as co-anchor at KATV Channel 7. After returning to Arkansas in 1982, he was first the sole anchor, then co-anchor, of the evening newscast before moving to the morning show. He retired from KTHV and the television business in the summer of 2009.(Submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. B.J. Sams reflects on life & 50-year career in broadcasting
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
2. B. J. Sams Marker
Looking east from Central Avenue; it is the 2nd from the right of four markers in this photo. The Hot Springs City Visitor Center parking lot is in the background.
Excerpt: Everyone in Arkansas knows B.J. Sams as a broadcasting icon. He spent 27 of his 50 years in broadcasting at THV11 before his retirement in 2009. We invited him back to the station to check out all that's changed since his retirement in 2009.(Submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
