Chuck Samples is in his second stint leading the KVOE news department.
Samples started at KVOE in 2002 and became the station’s news director in 2010. After leaving KVOE briefly, Samples returned to radio in late 2017. Samples has won numerous Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards during his time at KVOE for news reporting, severe weather coverage and sports broadcasting.
A native of Omaha, Neb., Samples began his journalism career as a part-time staffer involved in news, severe weather and sports coverage at KLIN Radio in Lincoln, Neb. He has also worked in print journalism, serving the Wahoo (Neb.) Newspaper as a reporter and page designer and the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star as a copy editor before coming to Emporia.
Samples and his wife, Ginny, the SOS Child Advocacy Center’s Family Advocate, adopted three of their four children from Kansas’ foster care system. The Samples have also started a support group for foster parents. Separately, the Samples have become advocates for research and awareness for neurofibromatosis, a neurological disorder that causes tumors on nerve pathways and can lead to developmental delays or physical issues, including blindness, for children.
In addition, Samples has also supported several causes, raising money for Special Olympics, St. Baldrick’s, SOS and the Muscular Dystrophy Association by participating in different fundraisers.
Samples considers himself a wide-ranging sports fan, listing his favorite teams as the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Chiefs, Winnipeg Jets and all University of Nebraska sports. He also occasionally writes music and considers himself a retired amateur storm chaser.
