“John-Boy,” as he is known to friends and family, is the oldest of seven children. A prolific writer and serious thinker, he fills his journal with thoughts on family, friends and life in general. John-Boy is usually mild-mannered, but capable of his father’s fiery temper in defense of his beliefs or his family.

INSP viewers chose their favorite Walton – here’s what some said about John-Boy…

From ~ Joe, Tennessee

John-Boy, because he is so full of life and tries to see the good in everything. Needless to say, he has a way with words!

From ~ Brenda, West Virginia

Because he is the story-teller, and the show basically revolves around him and his experiences. The Waltons were never the same after he left the show. Richard Thomas is also the perfect person to have played this role. He makes it SO real.

From ~ Amy, North Carolina

For me John-Boy was my big brother. I grew up being the youngest in a family of 9 children and my relationship with the oldest child, my brother Michael, was similar to how John-Boy and Elizabeth interacted with one another. To this day I look forward to watching the Waltons to see John-Boy because I have lost touch with my brother. When I watch The Waltons it is like I have my brother back again.

From ~ Becky, New York

John-Boy is my favorite Walton because, he is the big brother and I see a lot of his traits and characteristics in my son, who is also the big brother. John-Boy is an excellent teacher, reader, and helper; he keeps the siblings in line and brings so much to the family and community through his constant desire to learn and write. His character exemplifies what a big brother should be.

From ~ Connie, Missouri

He shared his family and life through his writing.

From ~ Shirley, Florida

John-Boy is a very caring and family-oriented person. He loves people and he respects and treat everyone with sense of fairness. He looks for the good in everyone. I also love the way he chronicles everything that happens in the family history.

From ~ Dianne, Ohio

It was his story, the show was good but not as good as it was once he left the show. The other John-Boy was not the same.

From ~ Naomi, Colorado

I suppose because I am also the oldest, though I only have 2 younger siblings. John-Boy was the ideal big brother; not perfect, but always there for his siblings, willing to listen and give advice, or just play around with them.

From ~ Tiffany, Mississippi

John-Boy Walton is my favorite Walton because I am the writer in my family. I enjoy sitting down to read and write. I also enjoy going to school and learning so many new things.

From ~ Melissa, Georgia

He is so well mannered and smart and helpful and caring to his family. Many boys today could take a lesson from him! Thank you for sending good family shows into our home. We love INSP!!

From ~ Cindi, Wisconsin

John-Boy is the heart of the show, and when he’s not in an episode, I feel the show’s just not the same without him. I think Richard Thomas is a great actor, and I also enjoy the variety of movies he stars in, but when I also see him in a movie, I still think of him as John-Boy, and the main character of “The Waltons”.

From ~ Lisa, Ohio

He is responsible, hardworking, ambitious, and can handle any situation. Then he puts it all in perspective, summarizes what he learned puts it in a novel and hides it in his heart. You gotta love John-Boy!

From ~ Jeremy, Georgia

John-Boy stands strong in the values of his family and beliefs.

From ~ Steve, Michigan

He is an excellent writer. He knows what is going on and seeks out the truth. He also has strong moral values. He is a person to look up to.

From ~ Kelly, Vermont

My favorite Walton is John- Boy for a lot of reasons, but I think the one that stands out the most is that he’s a writer. I never had any kind of guidance when I was a kid- at home or in school, and always knew I wanted to be a writer of some kind. I understand his passion. And you know, every once in a while he will say something that really hits home and makes things so clear to me. I also like how he acts when he gets excited about something.

From ~ Libby, Tennessee

The Waltons to me is a timeless show where you can go back in time, get swept up in their family stories and problems just fade away. I love it! When it is fall into winter I watch the show every day, twice a day. It never gets old, all year long it is entertaining, especially from November to spring. We have such dark days with winter, the Walton’s make you forget what goes on around you and just enjoy. November and on into the New Year the Walton’s is so very comforting. Each and every actor was perfectly picked for their role. John-Boy is one of my favorites. He always has a heart of gold and was a sensitive, caring and loving young man. You have to be a special man to be able to write the deep, thought provoking truth and loving stories that John-Boy told with pen in hand. Earl Hamner, I thank you for your inspiration and sharing with us all. The shows are always available to watch at any time. The Walton’s calm my soul.

From ~ Terri, Iowa

I love the character of John-Boy because he has always had a dream of what he wanted in life. He loves his life and the people in it and the fact that because of them and their part in his life he can grow into whom and what he is meant to be. He values where he has come from and becomes a strong man because of it. He is a wonderful big brother and truly cares for his siblings. He looks to his grandfather for advice and wisdom. I have been watching The Waltons since it first came on and have shared my love for it with my children and now, with INSP, I am able to share it with my grandchildren. I love the moral values that it teaches and would love to win the set of DVD’s to watch and pass on to the next generation.

From ~ Kathleen, Florida

I like Jim Bob Walton the best because he was an inspiring, quiet child. He got along well with his sister, Elizabeth, and I think that a brother and a sister that get along are magic. He was around my age when I started to watch the show. He loves cars and airplanes, two of my favorite things. He inspired me to keep on working on my model airplanes and turn them into something out of the ordinary. I also like him best because he was the most special on the show because of the sad incident that happened to his twin at birth. He was always a little more extra special to his mom. He is a true Walton’s Mountain boy.

From ~ Betty, South Carolina

It was really hard to pick a favorite when you love them all. I grew up watching The Walton’s and as a young girl had a crush on John-Boy. There was just something about him that tugged at my heart. The show was never the same when Richard Thomas left and they had a new guy playing his part. I was very happy to see him back in a couple of the movies that were made after the show went off the air.

From ~ Joy, Pennsylvania

I could picture him as my Son, Big Brother or Friend. He would have made a big difference in my life with his honesty, insight and calm attitude in almost all situations. I would have had a different attitude on life with him in it much sooner than I did on my own.

From ~ Lori, Florida

John-Boy is my favorite because he always showed love and compassion for his younger siblings and never lost his roots and sense of family, even when he left home.

From ~ Brenda, Maine

I always loved John-Boy. He has such innocence about him. He was always kind, gentle and loving, yet strong and confident. I’ve wanted to marry him since I was a little girl. I love watching the re-runs on INSP – can’t get enough of The Waltons. Reminds me of when I was growing up in the 1960′s. The way life should be.

From ~ Linda, Texas

John-Boy is a kind considerate young man approaching adulthood. During a time of hardship in his family and during an economic slump he shows responsibility for others while achieving his goals.

From ~ Allison, Kentucky

He always knew what to say at the right moments and he was the perfect older brother, the one who took care of his siblings and who offers the wisdom. John-Boy was also my favorite because of his writings and how he explained the importance of a family’s love.

From ~ Linda, Arkansas

He was the inspiration to all his family. He saw the real side of everyone—the good and the bad—and experienced the things that lots of folks went through them many years ago. Their entire family is a family that prayed together and stayed together; through all ups and downs they worked together, and loved and cared for each other. John-Boy was the tree root and all the rest were the branches on that tree that bloomed and were nourished through him. He told the story of a family struggling through the years … and I remember my family with eight kids, and my momma and daddy when I was young girl, watching my mom and dad struggling to feed all eight of us. We lived in a small village in Kansas and still, to this day, I remember them days and hard times we shared together as a family; just like The Waltons did–I only wish and pray my family was that close now for we’ve all grown apart and can’t even be together as close as we was them years ago. But watching The Waltons daily lets me go back to them years in my mind, and remember them happy times even though they was hard times; we was a family then just like The Waltons.