Beloved Arkansas beat writer Bob Holt, 65, dies after medical emergency

Longtime Arkansas-Democrat Gazette beat writer Bob Holt, who covered his home-state 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.”

Bob Holt, one of the last great true Journalist passed at 10:38 tonight. 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.

— Wally Hall (@WallyLikeItIs) December 5, 2024

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 saddened 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 decades. 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.

I really appreciate @CoachCalArk saying this about @BobHoltADG.

Been asked to use discretion from the family, but please pray for Bob. I love that man with all my heart as a friend & colleague.

He's going thru really tough time. Please pray & send good vibes to Bob. pic.twitter.com/URcqFS144E

— John Nabors (@JohnNaborsShow) December 4, 2024

“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.”

A 2014 AL.com profile once described Holt as “the most curious reproter at SEC Media Days and a reluctant cult hero.“

Throughout his four-decade career covering Arkansas and the SEC at large, Holt was a staple of the annual SEC Media Days events in both football and basketball, prepared with a litany of questions for every SEC head coach or player to take the dais, many with some circuitous connection to Arkansas.

“I don’t work for the Wall Street Journal,” Holt told AL.com. “I don’t work for the New York Times. You know, I don’t work for the USA Today. I work for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and like Bill Clinton says, ‘It’s a small, wonderful state,’ but to me, you always have to go for the local angle. I mean, you always have to. … I’ve gotten jokes about that. So-and-so flew over Arkansas, so you’re going to do a story on them.”