Sam Conn
Encyclopedia
Vernon Samuel Morris Conn (November 30, 1962 – January 30, 2010) was a journalist and actor.
Conn landed his first broadcast job at the age of 14 at KBCQ radio in Roswell, New Mexico
. He was the Sunday morning tape changer and read the local news
and weather. From there he received an internship at KBJT
radio in Fordyce, Arkansas
.
His television debut happened in the spring of 1980 at KOSA-TV
. He returned to KOSA-TV
for a second stint in 2002. He was the morning anchor at KOBR-TV in Roswell, New Mexico
(1993-1995). But he is best known for his years as the "Cowboy Reporter" at KOAT-TV's
"Action 7 News" in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1987-1993) and KOSA-TV's
"CBS 7 News" in Odessa, Texas
(2002-2006). He produced, shot, directed and appeared in a segment called "On the Trail" with Sam Conn.
Conn was, prior to his death, a reporter and photographer for Texas-New Mexico News Papers, which includes the Silver City Sun-News, an edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News
. He also writes "On the Trail", a feature series that runs in several of TNMNP publications. The television version of “On the Trail” runs in several American markets as well as some Australian markets.
Conn won more than 30 broadcasting and print awards, including ten First Place Associated Press awards (television) for Best Feature, Breaking News, Best Newscast (anchoring), Best Sports Story and Best Photography.
Conn's interest was to tell real people's stories. His on camera appearance is not the usual that most television viewers have come to consider the norm. Conn incorporates animal actors in his stories. Most of the dogs and horses Conn has “recruited” over the years have been from humane society shelters and “dog pounds.”
Conn became well known for his horsemanship and his horses appeared in several motion pictures including "Silverado
", Gambler 3, the television series "The Lazarus Man
" on TNT (Turner Network Television), and the film "Friday Night Lights
".
Biography
He was born on November 30, 1962 in Chaves County, New Mexico, and died on January 30, 2010 in Santa Clara, New Mexico. He has worked as a cowboy in New Mexico and Texas in the United States and also in Australia.Conn landed his first broadcast job at the age of 14 at KBCQ radio in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
. He was the Sunday morning tape changer and read the local news
Local news
In journalism, local news refers to news coverage of events in a local context which would not normally be of interest to those of other localities, or otherwise be of national or international scope.-Television:...
and weather. From there he received an internship at KBJT
KBJT
KBJT is a radio station licensed to serve Fordyce, Arkansas, USA. The station, established in 1959, is currently owned by KBJT, Inc.-Programming:...
radio in Fordyce, Arkansas
Fordyce, Arkansas
Fordyce is a city in Dallas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census.The city is the county seat, home to the 1911 Dallas County Courthouse .-Geography:...
.
His television debut happened in the spring of 1980 at KOSA-TV
KOSA-TV
KOSA Channel 7 in the Odessa/Midland television market is the CBS affiliate for the Permian Basin area of West Texas. KOSA and its transmitter are both located in Odessa with the station being housed inside the Music City Mall. A secondary studio and bureau are located in downtown Midland. ICA...
. He returned to KOSA-TV
KOSA-TV
KOSA Channel 7 in the Odessa/Midland television market is the CBS affiliate for the Permian Basin area of West Texas. KOSA and its transmitter are both located in Odessa with the station being housed inside the Music City Mall. A secondary studio and bureau are located in downtown Midland. ICA...
for a second stint in 2002. He was the morning anchor at KOBR-TV in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
(1993-1995). But he is best known for his years as the "Cowboy Reporter" at KOAT-TV's
KOAT-TV
KOAT-TV, channel 7, is an ABC network affiliated television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. Syndicated programming on KOAT includes: Entertainment Tonight, Ellen, The Dr...
"Action 7 News" in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1987-1993) and KOSA-TV's
KOSA-TV
KOSA Channel 7 in the Odessa/Midland television market is the CBS affiliate for the Permian Basin area of West Texas. KOSA and its transmitter are both located in Odessa with the station being housed inside the Music City Mall. A secondary studio and bureau are located in downtown Midland. ICA...
"CBS 7 News" in Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
(2002-2006). He produced, shot, directed and appeared in a segment called "On the Trail" with Sam Conn.
Conn was, prior to his death, a reporter and photographer for Texas-New Mexico News Papers, which includes the Silver City Sun-News, an edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News
Las Cruces Sun-News
Las Cruces Sun-News, founded in 1881, is a daily newspaper published in Las Cruces, New Mexico.-History:The Sun-News started in 1881 as the Rio Grande Republican and went through several mergers to become the Las Cruces Daily News in 1934...
. He also writes "On the Trail", a feature series that runs in several of TNMNP publications. The television version of “On the Trail” runs in several American markets as well as some Australian markets.
Conn won more than 30 broadcasting and print awards, including ten First Place Associated Press awards (television) for Best Feature, Breaking News, Best Newscast (anchoring), Best Sports Story and Best Photography.
Conn's interest was to tell real people's stories. His on camera appearance is not the usual that most television viewers have come to consider the norm. Conn incorporates animal actors in his stories. Most of the dogs and horses Conn has “recruited” over the years have been from humane society shelters and “dog pounds.”
Conn became well known for his horsemanship and his horses appeared in several motion pictures including "Silverado
Silverado
Silverado is a 1985 American Western film produced and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. The screenplay was written by Kasdan and his brother Mark. The film depicts a chance encounter between a group of cowboys who travel to the town of Silverado, where they thwart the plans of a rancher and a corrupt...
", Gambler 3, the television series "The Lazarus Man
The Lazarus Man
The Lazarus Man was a Western television series produced by Castle Rock Entertainment which first aired on January 20, 1996, and ended on November 9, 1996.-Production:...
" on TNT (Turner Network Television), and the film "Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights is a 2004 drama film which documents the coach and players of a high school football team and the Texas city of Odessa that supports and is obsessed with them. The book on which it was based, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, was authored by H. G...
".