Longtime Arkansas-Democrat Gazette beat writer Bob Holt, who covered his hometown Arkansas Razorbacks for more than four decades, died Wednesday evening, according to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports columnist Wally Hall. Holt was 65.

“Bob Holt, one of the last great true journalists, passed away at 10:38 this evening,” Hall posted on X/Twitter early Thursday morning. “Ironically, the doctor on duty was a former Razorback baseball player. Bob was a great person. The kindest and gentlest man in the world, always lifting people up and helping them.”

Holt, who graduated from Missouri’s famed journalism school in 1981, spent his entire career covering the Razorbacks. He was named Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year four times and was a member of the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. According to the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette website, Holt was also a member of the Football Writers Association of America, a member of the board of directors of the US Basketball Writers Association and a voter in the Heisman Trophy and the AP Top 25 Basketball Poll.

“We are saddened by the news of the loss of longtime Arkansas sportswriter Bob Holt,” Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and athletics director, wrote early Thursday. “Bob was the gifted journalist who helped tell the stories of Razorback students, 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 so inquisitive that he could get to the bottom of any subject. Bob will be missed by many in our Razorback family, throughout the Southeastern Conference and in collegiate athletics. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

John Calipari, first-year head coach of the Arkansas men’s basketball team and former Kentucky coach, opened Tuesday night’s postgame press conference by acknowledging Holt’s health following the Razorbacks’ 76-73 win at Miami.

“One of our beat writers, Bob Holt, … I don’t know if my prayers will help, but I know they won’t hurt,” Calipari said Tuesday night. “And I would say to everyone, just say a nice prayer for Bob Holt – one of the good guys in this job. In the truest sense of the word you think of a good man, that’s him. Therefore, it is a sad day for all Arkansas fans in our state.”