Craig O’Neill Biography

Craig O’Neill is an American anchor and reporter working for KTHV-TV 11 as an evening sports anchor at 10 p.m. He joined the KTHV-TV 11 news team in 2000, after previously working for ESPN2 Outdoors.

Craig O’Neill Career

Following his 1968 Little Rock Central graduation, O’Neill enrolled at Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV Journalism in 1972. During his time at ASU, O’Neill also served two years in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.). O’Neill also started his radio career at ASU when he accepted a position as Randy Hankins at the radio station KBTM in Jonesboro. A year later, he would go on air as “Craig O’Neill.”

O’Neill started working in broadcasting and advertising sales at KARN in Little Rock in 1972. Randy Hankins changed his name to Craig O’Neill when the program director at KARN thought that Craig O’Neill had a more appealing name. O’Neill joined the staff of KLAZ in the winter of 1978 and began making his famous prank telephone calls. His first prank call was to Arkansas Governor David Pryor, and his opponent in the U.S. Senatorial race, Jim Guy Tucker.  Randy posed as Jimmy Carter in wishing both Pryor and Tucker luck in their upcoming election.

In 1981 O’Neill left the staff of KLAZ and began working at KKYK, becoming the number one disc jockey in Little Rock.  During his career at KKYK, he continued to make prank telephone calls and traveled to Hollywood, California on several occasions.  He appeared in a movie that was made in Arkansas, titled Pass The Ammo.  After ten years at KKYK O’Neill moved to neighboring radio station KURB in 1991.

When O’Neill joined the KLAZ team in the winter of 1978, he started making his well-known phone pranks. His initial practical joke was directed against Arkansas Governor David Pryor and U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Guy Tucker. Wishing Pryor and Tucker success in their impending elections, O’Neill pretended to be Jimmy Carter.

O’Neill started working at KKYK in 1981 after leaving the KLAZ staff, where he rose to the position of top disc jockey in Little Rock. Throughout his time at KKYK, he kept making prank phone calls and made multiple trips to Hollywood, California. He starred in an Arkansas-produced film called Pass The Ammo. In 1991, after ten years at KKYK, O’Neill moved to KURB, formerly known as B98.5, a nearby radio station, and remained there until December 1999. At KURB, O’Neill raised money for charities and he estimates that he has worked at over 2,000 charity fundraisers. He is renowned for giving unreservedly of his time, talent, and self to humanitarian causes.

O’Neill became the stadium announcer for all home football games for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1997. He switched from radio to television on January 1, 2000, moving from KURB to KTHV Channel-11. O’Neill is KTHV’s Sports Director at the moment. He makes jokes about how he parked at the station’s front door for months, pleading to be featured on TV, in order to get the job at KTHV. O’Neill has been one of the most consistent anchors in a town known for anchors’ longevity, and he offered a steady baritone voice through an unsteady time after COVID-19 struck in 2020.

According to Channel 11, O’Neill has emceed more than 9,000 charity events and has helped raise over $40 million for Arkansas and its communities. He has also received a regional EMMY and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Journalism. Earlier in 2023, he was inducted into the NATAS Mid-America Gold Circle for his fifty-plus years in broadcasting. The collection of Randy Hankins is officially known as the Craig O’Neill Collection. During his leisure time, O’Neill enjoys reading, writing, fitness training and horse racing.

Craig O’Neill Salary

O’Neill earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.

Craig O’Neill Net Worth

O’Neill has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which he has earned through his career as a sportscaster.

Craig O’Neill Age

O’Neill was born on October 19, 1950, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is 74 years old as of 2024 and he celebrates his birthday on the 19th of October every year.

Craig O’Neill Height and Weight

O’Neill stands at a height of approximately 5 feet 10 inches. He has not disclosed his weight. However, this information will be updated when available.

Craig O’Neill Family

O’Neill was born Randy Hankins to Earnest Hankins and Judy Merritt Hankins in the Old Saint Vincent Hospital. The Hankins’ home was in Warren, Arkansas where the elder Hankins owned a hardware store. He is the oldest of four children, with two sisters, Leslie Hankins Parker of Carlisle, and Kathy Hankins Kelly of West Little Rock. His brother Phil Hankins works in radio in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Craig O’Neill Wife and Children

O’Neill married Jane Hankins (born Ruth Jane Fryer), an artist, in 1971. The couple has two children, Abby Hankins Kirby, who is married to Josh Kirby and they have one child, Bella Rose Kirby, and Thomas Hankins, who is unmarried.

Craig O’Neill Retiring From KTHV / Where is Craig O’Neill?

After calling off retirement three times, the KTHV-TV, O’Neill is finally and officially signing off after a three-decade radio career, 24 years with the Little Rock CBS affiliate, and over 50 years in broadcasting as announced by THV11, on Monday, November 20, 2023. His last broadcast is set for 10 p.m. on December 29, 2023.