John Samples

John Wayne Samples (1955- ) was born in Winchester, Kentucky. Contrary to the obvious, he was not named for a Hollywood cowboy but rather for his father, but with a different middle name. As was common in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, John always had two names growing up, particularly with family and close friends; his happened to be 'John Wayne'. The cowboy connection was learned later.

A preacher's kid that moved more than thirty times around middle America, John has seen a lot of life and the stories of simple people that go with it; or is it the simple stories he has seen and the lives that go with those?

His travels around the world convinced him that people-are-people regardless of the labels or languages, and most of them are just trying to live their lives--there are a few folks that are trying to cause trouble, and a few more that are trying to reach spectacular achievements--and the stories of each and every one are worth telling. Even more importantly, those stories are worth hearing.

Professional Background Summary

* Broadcasting:

Radio News anchor/reporter, sports play-by-play, disc jockey;

TV News & Documentary anchor/producer, political reporter;

Newspaper General Manager

* Politics:

Press secretary to Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut;

Lobbyist in the Indiana Legislature and in Washington, D.C.

* Electric Utilities:

Rural Electric Communications Manager

President/CEO

* Ministry:

Mega-church executive staff;

Homeless shelter CEO;

Ukrainian economic development ministry;

Middle East outreach to/with Arab-Israeli Christians

Specialties: Public Speaking, communications, international travels.