Mass Communications Hall of Fame

The Mass Communications Hall of Fame was organized to recognize Texas Tech University alumni who have distinguished themselves in mass communications. The Hall of Fame also recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in mass communications and have specifically aided the educational programs in the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech.

Nominations are made by any student, faculty member, individual or group. The nominations must be made prior to the fall meeting of the Mass Communications National Professional Advisory Board for consideration for inclusion in the annual ceremony.

Election to the Mass Communications Hall of Fame requires a three-fourths vote by the members present at official meetings of the mass communications faculty and the Mass Communications National Professional Advisory Board.

Qualifications for election or selection into the Hall of Fame include an alumnus who has been out of school for at least five years or a person who is not an alumnus, who is not, at the time of the award, serving in any official capacity with Texas Tech University.

View our previous inductees

Fall 2011 Mass Communications Hall of Fame Recipient

Keith Samples

Keith Samples, who earned his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977 from Texas Tech University, is the 47th inductee into the Mass Communications Hall of Fame. The College of Mass Communications recognized Samples as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2002.

After graduation, Samples worked as the sports information director for Texas Tech University. He left Texas Tech in 1981 to become executive vice president of Sports Productions Inc., a Dallas-based company that produced and distributed live sporting events.

During a career in film and television that spans more than 25 years, Samples has been involved with the production and distribution of more than 20 feature films and dozens of television series. In 1985, Samples moved out of the sports world and accepted a position in Los Angeles as senior vice president at Lorimar-Telepictures, the producers of "Dallas," "Falcon's Crest," "Knot's Landing," and "The People's Court." He became executive vice president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. in 1987. During his tenure, Samples managed a sales staff responsible for more than $1 billion in domestic program sales, including iconic hits "Murphy Brown" and "Full House."

In 1991, Samples founded and became the CEO of Rysher Entertainment, a company that has grown from the relatively humble production and distribution house behind such syndicated television hits as "Saved By the Bell" and "Highlander: The Series" to a major Hollywood player, with films such as "Big Night" and "Kingpin," both in 1996. Samples made his debut as a screenwriter and director with the romantic comedy "A Smile Like Yours" in 1997.

After selling Rysher Entertainment to Cox Communications in 1997, Samples embarked on a career as a producer/director. Since then, he has directed more than 60 episodes of prime-time television, and produced numerous films. Television directing credits include episodes of "The Practice," "Homicide: Life on the Streets," "Oz," "The O.C.," "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity," "Judging Amy," and "Reba."

In July, Samples directed Academy Award winner Russell Crowe in his North American television debut, the third-season premier of the Canadian hit "Republic of Doyle." The show will air in January 2012. Samples is a long-time member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Directors Guild of Canada.