My favorite samples joke: Lulu says " junior, you never pay me no compliments " Junior thought for a few seconds and gave her one. "Lulu, you know for a fat gal , you sure don't sweat much "

During the Cold War I was stationed with a cavalry regiment in northern Bavaria. My squadron patrolled the East German and Czechoslovakian borders with helicopters. We had a combination of tactical and contingency plans that used various rally points to meet back up should things go wrong and we needed to regroup. There was a radio station operated by the Bayerische Rundfunk, initials BR, on frequency 549 and we had a radio that also had a pointer. The transmitter's location was one of these rally points and was given the codename Junior's Car Lot. The call would come, "Rally, Junior's!" and off we would go.

For years in my childhood, I'd walk across the street and spend saturday nights at my grandparents' house. Our evening entertainment usually consisted of a dish of Heavenly Hash ice cream as we sat down to watch TV. Granny would be crocheting or piecing a quilt by hand in her favorite chair. Papaw would be in his yellow chair with his feet up on the ottoman, which we always called a hassock back then. He'd drift off to sleep periodically. I do that now at 60, and I'm reminded fondly of him. Hee Haw was always our main show. Papaw loved Junior Samples and he'd laugh and repeat the BR549. Carol Burnett was our 2nd favorite. Other shows mixed among them were The Jeffersons, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, and The Lawrence Welk Show. Then I would awake Sunday morning to the wonderful aroma of bacon or sausage frying and coffee percolating. I'd crawl out of bed and spend very special times with Papaw in the kitchen. I learned so much from him. His cooking breakfast every morning was his very personal way of saying thank you to Granny for decades of waking up first before him and the children, and cooking breakfast and packing lunches for everyone. When he retired, he willingly took over the job. And he'd go to great pains to make everything the best it could be for Granny. Having owned and operated a small neighborhood store for many years, he had friends who'd supplied him with great local products in high demand back then. He'd drive for miles into the country to get hand churned butter, hand cured meats, local honey in the comb, fresh cream, and homemade apple butter. In addition, he kept a garden and an orchard. He'd slice fresh vine ripe tomatoes and serve one of the many jams, jellies, and preserves Granny would make from the orchard or from roadside berry picking. It was a meal fit for a king and it wasn't served till Granny came to the table. We'd enjoy the memorable experience, then dress for church. I honor him now that I do almost all cooking in our home since retiring. I prepare Sunday dinner for our whole family including our 3 grown children and our grandchildren. Like Papaw Fred, I too take pains to get the best ingredients I can find. I pay attention to the favorite dishes and drinks of each family member. I strive to have everything prepared and laid out so that when we return from church, our kids can relax, eat together, and rest after a hard work week without having to cleanup. Then carry leftovers home for lunch on Monday. I always prepare extra food for that purpose. One particular thing I learned from Papaw serves me well. I use the fewest dishes and utensils possible while cooking, and wash each one as I finish with it instead of dealing with a whole sink full of dishes after a meal. My grandkids also call me Papaw. A grand title it is indeed. I wish all kids today could have the wonderful childhood me and my brothers had. There is no substitute for family. Too many parents now are too pre-occupied with their own pleasures to give that wonderful gift to their children.

I used to love that show. I automatically started singing “ where, oh where, are you tonight” 🎶

If you get a chance to see the "This Is Your Life" program telling the story of Junior's life do it. He cries throughout the entire program. He was so sincere in his reaction to seeing friends and family. I laughed and wept with him! A genuine and good person.

I used to play bass with a lot of country artist and Hee Haw was GREAT to do. The show only taped 2 months out the year and they treated the artist and band GREAT. You can never forget.....HEEE HAWWW.

I’m also of this generation. Some favorite memories are of shows such as Beverly Hillbillies, Lawrence Welk, The Grand Ole Opry, and Sunday nights Disney, Petticoat Junction and of course Green Acres. Yep, I’m that old! Lol

I remember an interview of Junior where he was asked about where that phone number came from. He said that he went fishing one morning and he passed near by channel marker BR 5 and it popped into his head that it sounded a lot like a phone number and added the 4 9 to it. Later on when they were working on the script for Samples Sales he remembered the number and they used it in the skit. Now everyone knows.

Where oh where are you tonight why did you leave me here all alone!!! That was a fun show, miss it much!

It originated with the International Harvester BR-549 engine which was used in larger farm trucks. It was a Broad-Ringed (BR) 549 Cubic Inch monster of an engine.

You made us all laugh - one of the greatest gifts to mankind. Rest in Peace Junior Samples.

I always remember HeeHaw with fondness. I was a young USAF Enlisted man when I was stationed at one of my bases and we always loved watching the show when it came on, as we worked 24 hour shifts every other day. Made the day go by just a little easier knowing we’d be laughing later. Rest well, Jr.

Salute, Junior was a delightful person. Simple, Funny, and Honest.

I grew up watching a great and wholesome show. This has helped me through out my life. God bless junior

Junior Samples & Jerry Clower we're the Best of the Best, back then !! They are truly mist...😮😢😂😊

When he was doing the used car sales pitch and the audience was laughing, Junior had this look on his face like he didn't know what they laughing about. That look made me laugh so hard and so much that tears were streaming down my cheeks.

Loved Junior. Miss him and his humor. What a treasure he was. ❤

Junior was my favorite on Hee Haw. I remember watching him growing up. He will always be remembered. BR549 RIP JUNIOR. Thank you so much for sharing this video

Bonedaddy I agree. I'm 54 and when I was a tot, Hee Haw was a mainstay. He didn't get a whole lot of camera time, but Junior always cracked me up with his fumbling of his lines!!!! God bless the OG's!!!!!!!!!!!

Junior always was one of my favorite Hee Haw characters. May he rest in peace.

I grew up loving watching Hee Haw with my family!

I think of that BR549 every day! Amazing how much a person retains from childhood. Great video!

I live in Cumming, Georgia and grew up watching Hee Haw and Junior Samples. I also worked with Junior's granddaughter and her husband. They were in landscaping. I also got to be friends with Junior's son. It's sad that I never got to meet Junior Samples, but knowing his family was a blessing.

I didn't know he was from Ga. and I didn't know he was buried here. I loved Hee Haw too. My family I have been to Lake Lanier many many times. Thank you for sharing this video. I'll always remember this.

To this day, I'm a HUGE Hee-Haw fan! String Bean is from right up the mountain from me, and they have a festival in his honor. Junior's story is pretty amazing. My favorite car lot sketch was when he was had come to have a German car and said "It'll be ready to drive right off the lot as soon as somebody tells us where the gas filler is." GREAT video!

I watched it with my grandparents when I stayed with them out in the country in North Louisiana. Great memory.

I had a shipmate aboard USS Nimitz, 1979-1982 whose initials were BRS. A Texan, he had a down home drawl so he was nicknamed BR 549 in tribute to Junior.

I'm just a few breaths older and I share your clear memory of gathering around the TV to watch Hee Haw with Jr. and his crazy stories. We would gather as an extended family with the older ones sitting on sofas and stuffed chairs while us kids would be laying on the linoleum floor. Winter would be cold as ice with a brisk draft from under the front door. In summer that smooth cool floor would be a blessing to lay on. But no matter the season 3, sometimes 4 generations would be laughing together with Jr.'s antics and thin sly smile. Thanks for the video

I don't think there is anyone who watched hee haw that didn't love Junior Samples, he was funny. I didn't know that he was a race car driver in his earlier years. Thanks for sharing & bringing to mind the fun we had watching Junior & hee haw.

I never knew if Junior was acting or just being himself.

I had an Uncle that was Junior's Doppelganger. He looked and talked like Junior, but his name was Jimmy Porter, and he lived his whole life in Ipava Illinois. His land was just over 300 acres, and had 5 stocked ponds on it. I would cut firewood there, and he was always happy to see you when you got there. He had been a farmer all his life, and I loved to just sit and talk with him. I was always amazed at his observations and how he could figure things out. I miss him a lot. Rip Uncle Jimmy and Junior. I look forward to the day I can just set between you two, fishing, and listen to you talk. Thanks for posting.

I remember him well and he was my favorite. I was 24 when he passed and I was heart broken. One of my fondest memories while I was growing up. I loved HeeHaw. RiP Junior. BR549

I had the pleasure of meeting Junior Samples in the late 70s. Very personable. BR-549.

Love Hee Haw. JR was one of my favorites. He wa sso darn funny just being himself.

That was cool to see the grave of Junior Samples. Watched him on HeeHaw. Expected to see BR549 somewhere on his market. Thanks for sharing, Mike.

We used to love to watch Hee Haw as Family. This brings back fond memories of Junior, Lulu, Buck and the cast! Beautiful cemetery!

The show had changed by the time i was born but i still love to watch the older episodes. Aside from Junior i also loved hearing what Grandpa was making for supper

What a fitting and beautiful resting place! Truly loved the lake! I have never watched the show but I have heard about it! This is such a wonderful remembrance of a local celebrity! And so young! 🙁 Rest In Peace Junior Samples! 🙏🏼 🤗💙💫🕊

Junior Samples was more than a local celebrity. BR549 is stuck in the heads of everyone of an age.

I lived in Cumming from the age of 5 to 8 off of Nuckolls Rd. We used to drive by this old house, one of the clap board shacks with an old wooden front porch... Can't remember exactly where it was, but Junior was often sitting out front in a wooden rocking chair and he always waited at us as we drove by. I also grew up watching HeeHaw on Saturday nights with the family. Thanks for stirring up some good memories my brother.

I use BR549 at least a couple times a year in pranking people. I will always remember HeeHaw and Jr Samples. Thanks for sharing this. Excellent.

Hee Haw was also on in my family's home every Saturday night. My brother was the reason, 'cause he always was and always will be a huge country fan. When each Hee Haw cast member dies, it's like losing family, even to this day. My favorite Junior Samples joke was, 'I crossed the road without lookin'. Whad'ya get? Runned over!'

What a beautiful wall for the cremated remains. That is sad, three internments in one day. Well "hey thar' Junior". What would Saturday night have been with without HeeHaw. Junior Samples was one of a kind. Such a peaceful resting spot being by that lake. I can't believe that my uncle that lived in Cummings never told me that Junior was there. BR 459 🐟 🐠 🎣 Yes, I believe it stands for BaldRidge. Makes perfect sense. Enjoyed this so much .

MOST Impressively potent & personal presentation on a topic of genuinely touchstone centrality to a culture not quite yet gone! Thank you Good Sir!!!❤❤❤

BR549 also has an automotive connection. International once built a very large gasoline V8 for their trucks; it had a displacement of 549 cubic inches, and was available with an optional turbocharger. The pistons were designed with extra-large compression rings to handle the boost of the turbo, and were fitted to the non-boosted versions as well. The engine thus received a prefix designating that it used the 'broad rings', and the design was advertised as the International BR549...

My grandparents loved Hee Haw, I hadn't thought about it in years, thanks for the memories you stirred and the great video!

I worked at a radio station in Statesville N.C. and Junior Samples came in for a visit. He was GREAT to talk to. What you saw on Hee Haw was the real Junior, the real deal.

Very nice leaving a fishing lure. What great memories of Her Haw as a kid watching every week. The bird's geese have a nice protected habitat at the lake.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Samples when I was about 8 yrs. old in Orlando, FL in 1969 or 1970. My parents really enjoyed Hee Haw and we all watched it every week. A new car lot was opening and Junior was the celebrity attraction. He was very kind, but a little bit shy. He of course was asked to say "BR549". I will always remember that day.

I’m from India, haven’t had the pleasure of watching the show. The cemetery is beautiful. A big thumbs up 👍 and Paw5 🐾

We always, always watched HeeHaw; it came on Saturday nights at 7pm; we never missed it. Junior did a super job as a member of the "Culhanes", but his best -no doubt- was playing the car salesman (BR549 sketch). We used to get up in front of class in 1st grade and sing "where oh where are you tonight" ... (this was when HeeHaw had first started); I also had a HeeHaw lunch box.

I was raised in Florida, but I moved up to Northern Georgia in Jackson County and the ZIP Code here is 30549 and it always reminded me of BR 549 so I think of it often and I loved Junior Samples and that show

Great video!! My Grandmother was a Samples and her and Jr. were 1st cousins. In fact, she is buried in the same cemetery. In the garden of peace I do believe. Her name is Rooney S. Holloway with the S standing for Samples. She was my dad's mother and him and all of his side of the family live in Cumming and Dawsonville. I never knew he was buried there. I was always told he was buried on his property somewhere. This is great to know! Thank you!!

I'm 72 years old and we also watched Heehaw every Saturday night. Only black and white TV but they made smiles every weekend for many. I agree BR549 is well known by most all my age. I always loved listening to Buck Owens and still do. One of my favorites by Buck was "Made in Japan" and the all famous "Under your spell again" i still listen to Buck to this day and he has been gone a long long time. Thanks for bringing us along and for honoring Junior Samples.

Great Story of a great man. That was lovely of you to leave a fishing lure in memory of Junior. Take Care Mandy ❤🤗❤

I was in the Army Fort Carson 1977. There was a person with the last name Samples of course we called him Juinor but eventually he just became known as BR549.

I always remember “Samples Car Sales” on HeeHaw. Thanks for sharing this my friend. 🙂👍🏻

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr Samples and grew to be acquainted with him as I was the night manager at the hotel next to where he would appear when in Cocoa Beach. Truly a very pleasant and Godly man, overalls and all. He really made your day even in the 5 min it took to get him checked in and to his room..btw, I was too young to go to the club and see his show.

Very interesting video! Thanks for sharing👍👍👍

Decades ago I would always think of Junior when i drove through Cumming on the way to Lake Lanier, which is where he caught that big fish and his recorded comical story of that was heard by Chet Atkins, who in turn, introduced him to Archie Campbell of Hee Haw and so the rest was history.

This is one of the best! I loved Hee Haw, always wanted to meet Buck Owens. I have a couple old VCR tapes of recorded episodes! Thanks for this beautiful tribute to Jr., and for showing us that gorgeous cemetery! ❤️👍🏼👌🏼

As much as i loved Juniors skits, one of my favorite skits was Grandpa reciting the menu for supper.

My favorite show in that era. Buck Owens is from Bakersfield Ca. where I lived as a youngin' "On the streets of Bakersfield" I was in my first year of high School when Hee Haw first aired. I remember they canceled it on local TV after only a few years because it was to rural-country. All of may favorite artists passed through this show. Thanks for sharing this piece of fact. Yes I always wondered about the BR-549. I just assumed it was the phone number. But, that is a good theory.🙏👍big like 38---Kornfield Kounty must be in Georgia😉😊

When I was a kid my grandparents had a large lakefront estate on Lake Lanier off Pilgrim Mill Rd just outside Cumming. Whenever I stayed with them in the summer we'd always start the morning with breakfast at Jack's Restaurant just across the street from Otwell Ford in Cumming. From time to time Junior Samples would come in for breakfast as well and he'd always speak to me. He was a nice man with a huge heart who loved a good biscuit.

Very interesting. Hee Haw was my dad’s favorite show

I have a front page clipping of me and the Hee Haw bunch Bristol television station..... back in the day. I was in the First grade. Roy , Minnie, Grampa, Lou Lou. Junior was awesome 😎...and others ,BR549 broad ring engine.... Tractor and truck application.

We loved Hee Haw. Junior was always so fun. They were all fun. 😀👋💖

You & I are approximately the same age, and your Saturday nights sound a lot like mine. 😁 We used to watch both Hee Haw & Carol Burnett too, until I got older & music became my obsession. I'd spend my time in my room listening to that God forsaken Rock & Roll. 😂 However Junior was hilarious, and we all got a kick out of him, and what you pointed out about BR-549 makes a lot of sense. RIP Junior, you left us too soon. ❤

This was nice seeing and the history. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a great day.

I remember watching every Saturday night & seeing Junior Samples doing his car salesman bit. One show he came out & kicked a very old Model A or T as he walked away, the car started rolling away. I don’t remember what he did, but I thought that was the funniest thing I had seen in a long while. He was something else.

Hee Haw was always one of my childhood memories😔

HeeHaw was one of theon longest running TV show on TV it ran from 1968 to 1994 ...

I love your description of what the Hee Haw cast meant to you. I believe that every one needs a grave with marker. It records that they were here. Your video is testament of that. I’ve noticed the growth in popularity of ashes spread in nature, in a lake or ocean. But no physical grave for the departed. At least in my neck of the woods. Recently a family member passed away and their wish for their ashes to be sprinkled into an area River. We halfway obliged, with the other half interned in the family plot, engraved stone on order. The family members that remain all decided the same fate for ourselves with different places we want half our atoms to go but with the rest in the plot. Leave our “Mark” behind.

I loved this. I remember when Junior died. I was just a kid, but I was so sad. Through the magic of television, he’d become a member of the family. Thanks for this tribute.

I knew Roy personally , he was a great man, loved his Junior stories

I use to watch Hee Haw with my dad when I was young. Loved all the cast members and junior Samples was a favorite. Yes! The BR549 I still jokingly throw it in conversations sometimes!

I enjoyed the post Mike. Junior was one of my favorites on Hee Haw. Take care.

I’m much to young to have watched it in it’s prime, but I enjoy reruns regularly :). Great video mike

Haa, I've got a car with BR 359 on it's license plate. Always think of Junior when I see that plate and his speaking that line.

Haaa! First! We watched Hee Haw every Saturday night at 8:00 growing up! Awesome! ❤️

I remember watching the show when I was a kid my parents would visit my grandparents and we would watch i remember the price tag on the hat such great memories and great times for me.

LOVED him and miss Hee-Haw SO MUCH!!! If today things were more like they were then the world would be a MUCH better place!

I watched that show everytime it came on. Thanks for the memories

Junior Samples was one of my favorite characters on HeeHaw. People around the country made fun of the cast and Tennesseans in general. We didn't care, and they laughed all the way to the bank!

Yes we here in Columbia SC love tht show still great fans too

I remember watching Hee Haw with my parents.

I loved Hee Haw We watched it every Saturday night eating popcorn. I still like to watch the reruns on KZfaq. He died too soon.

His daughter passed away a couple of weeks ago. She was a sweet lady.

My Grandfather took me to a fishing tournament where Junior was back in the 70's when I was a kid. Great memories.

Loved Hee Haw. We grew up on it. Don’t tell my husband, but I had a crush on the twins. Cool story.

If you are into Electronics at all, the BC549 is a general purpose NPN Transistor. It makes a good Joule Thief circuit. I liked Junior Samples for his down home humor.

Used to love Hee Haw RIP Junior

Hee Haw and Carol Burnett, yup remember those days well. Lawrence Welk was another Saturday night program quite popular, especially in the Midwest where I grew up. Those were the days when our country was still our country, sure miss those times.

That was a very interesting story of BR549, it was also Barney Five's call number on his patrol car radio which I believe was mid 60's.

What a lovely tribute to a wonderful funnyman!

He was on Johnny Carson one night. Johnny asked him about how he came to know so much about "white liquor" or " moonshine". I remember him just looking at Johnny and said, it just kind come naturally. Of course everyone just broke up.

Thanks for the memories of childhood. HeeHaw & Carol were staples with my family too. Junior was a favorite of mine along with Miss Minne Pearl. It’s nice to be able to virtually pay my respects to someone that gave me so many laughs. BR549 is just apart of so many folks vocabulary it’s a joy to know where it probably came from. I can definitely see a fisherman using that as a shout out to his favorite fishing spot. My Grandpa was a commercial fisherman before TVA but he never stopped pulling in those whopper catfish. His brother (93) wants to be cremated and I’m to take him to his honey hole on the Tennessee River. Again Thank You

Surface Area: 38,542 Acres Shore Line Length: 540 Miles Length of Lake: 44 Miles Storage Volume: 1,917,000 Acre Feet Drainage Area: 1,040 Square Miles As a Fisherman I always look at the Miles of Shoreline for each lake, In the early beginning of Lake Lanier the Shoreline was 549 miles, later revised to 540. So BR549, may have been his way of saying Bald Ridge Road and 549 Miles of lake front in Memory of the Beautiful Lake He loved.

Thank you young man. Excellent. Just excellent. And yes Im too a Junior Samples fan.

I remember Saturday night as well Mike he Hall Adam 12 emergency Carol Burnett what great times and memories thanks for taking us along my man