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Andrew James “Marshal Andy” Smalls Jr.
“If you don’t wear a white hat, please wear a smile so we can tell you from the bad guys”
July 29, 1929 – March 1, 2026
Andrew James “Marshal Andy” Smalls, Jr. passed away on March 1, 2026, peacefully at home at age 96.
Andy was born at home in Georgetown, South Carolina on July 29, 1929, to Clever Jacobs and Andrew J. Smalls, Sr.. He was the 11th of 12 children. Andy’s father was a fisherman and a farmer in a low country of Georgetown.
Andy was a proud 1949 graduate of Winyah High and was captain of the football team. The legendary Coach Frank Howard recruited Andy to play at Clemson where he became captain of the freshman team and was a linebacker, center, and guard.
At age 17 he began singing Big Band music along the Carolina coast with the Georgetown Troubadours in Jack Blount’s orchestra. During his senior year at Clemson, when singing “Blue Moon” at a Charleston supper club, he met Kathryn Yarbrough, who became the love of his life. They were married 61 years until Kathryn’s death on July 1st, 2018.
Two of their three children preceded them in accidental deaths, Thomas Scott at age 6 and Lucy Ann at age 20. Their son Drew helped care for his parents until their deaths.
Andy’s career led their family to several cities and opportunities including working for Ted Turner Sr.. After settling in Knoxville, he managed “The Lost Sea”, and North Carolina’s “Gold City”. Andy retired from Tele-Scripps Cable Company in 1990.
He performed in and wrote many TV and radio commercials and songs, including “The Waffle House” jingle.
He hosted radio shows featuring western, country, and Big Band music. His favorite singer was Eddie Arnold. He would meet and become good friends with his idol and introduced him to many other country stars.
Andy performed on the Grand Ole Opry Ryman stage during the premier of “Bell Witch the Movie”. He also sang at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma. He was always generous with his time for charity events.
As children, he and his brother, Joe loved watching cowboy movies at the local Georgetown theaters where Andy later became an usher and took up tickets.
The love led him to create “Riders of the Silver Screen” featuring old cowboy movies. He interviewed many legendary cowboy movie stars for that TV show which ran for 40 years, including 33 years at PBS. The Tennessee State Legislature presented Andy with a proclamation for having the longest running TV show in Knox County history.
Andy formed the Riders of the Silver Screen Band by recruiting the best western musicians in the area. The band was in great demand and continued to perform until Andy’s retirement. It was featured in his weekly TV show.
Andy said goodbye to his viewers each week by saying “If you don’t wear a white hat, please wear a smile so we can tell you from the bad guys.”
We know that Andy is wearing that smile now, as we mourn the loss of a legend known as The Knoxville Cowboy.
Survived by his son, Andrew J. Smalls, III; sister, Lucy Hill Poston of Virginia; brother, Willie Joseph “W.J.” of South Carolina, and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at McGill Click Funerals and Cremations located at 1366 Hwy 72 N, Loudon TN, 37774. There will be a service to follow.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Knoxville PBS channel 2 at https://www.easttennesseepbs.org/donate/
McGill Click Funerals and Cremations is honored to serve the Smalls family. Condolences may be left at www.mcgillclick.com.