Junior Samples

 Junior Samples, born Alvin Samples Jr. (April 10, 1926 – November 13, 1983)

He was a comedian best known for his 14-year run as a cast member of the TV show Hee Haw. A sixth grade dropout, Samples was a stock car racing driver and carpenter by trade who went on the radio at the age of 40 and told a story about catching the largest fish ever seen in his hometown. The story was a humorous tall tale, and the recording of this radio story became a best-selling novelty record, "You Shoulda Seen The One That Got Away". He was asked to become part of the 1969 cast of Hee Haw, and created a bumbling personality, often stumbling or slow-talking his way through delivery, messing up jokes, and forgetting lines. His five children also appeared in episodes during the early years of the show, playing the children in the "Schoolhouse" sketches, and as themselves in quickies. Samples's most famous bit was as a used car salesman, inviting callers to call an older five-digit phone number, BR-549 (in the show's later years, the number was changed to BR-1Z1Z). He was nominated for two Comedian of the Year Awards from the Country Music Awards in 1969 and 1970, and released a number of other comedy albums. He was married, and had five children. Samples died from a heart attack at age 57 on November 13, 1983. He is buried at Sawnee View Gardens and Mausoleum in Cumming, Georgia.