Beloved Arkansas beat writer Bob Holt, 65, dies after medical emergency
Longtime Arkansas-Democrat Gazette beat writer Bob Holt, who covered his homestate Arkansas Razorbacks for more than four decades, passed away Wednesday night, according to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports columnist Wally Hall. Holt was 65.
“Bob Holt, one of the last great true Journalist passed at 10:38 tonight,” Hall posted on X/Twitter early Thursday morning. “Ironically the doctor on duty was a former Razorback baseball player. Bob was an amazing person. Kindest most gentle man in the world, always lifting people up and helping them.”
Holt, a 1981 graduate of Missouri’s famed journalism school, spent his entire career covering the Razorbacks. He was named Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year four times and a member of the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. Holt was also a member of the Football Writers Association of America, on the board of directors for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and voter for the Heisman Trophy and AP Top 25 basketball poll, according to the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette website.
“We are saddeded to hear the news of the loss of longtime Arkansas sportswriter Bob Holt,” wrote Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, early Thursday. “Bob was the consumate journalist who helped tell the stories of Razorback student-athletes, coaches and fans to millions of readers across our state and beyond for four decaded. His never ending curiosity was genuine and allowed him to be inquisitive in a way that would allow him to get to the heart of any topic. Bob will be missed by many in our Razorback Family, throughout the Southeastern Conference and within collegiate athletics. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”
First-year Arkansas head men’s basketball coach and former Kentucky coach John Calipari opened Tuesday night’s postgame press conference acknowledging Holt’s health situation following the Razorbacks’ 76-73 win at Miami.
“One of our beat writers, Bob Holt, … I don’t know if my prayers will help, but I know they don’t hurt,” Calipari said Tuesday night. “And I’d tell everybody, just pray a nice prayer for Bob Holt — one of the good guys in this profession. Literally, you think about a good man, that’s who he is. So it’s a sad day for all Arkansas fans in our state.”
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