A few years prior to the start of the TV series, J.J.'s wife Lee and teenage son Mark died in a plane crash on their way to make a surprise visit to J.J. who was at an off-shore oil rig.

He turned day-to-day control of his company Marklee Industries over to his trusted second, Charlie Bullets (played by character actor David Huddleston in the pilot, and singer Jimmy Dean thereafter).

Though based in San Antonio, he traveled the country helping out "good folks" in trouble using his considerable influence, wealth, and contacts -- and more than a little detective work.

However, during a break in production late in the fall of 1987, star Dale Robertson fell from his horse at his Oklahoma ranch, injuring his hip and leg.

In New York City, a Wall Street wizard makes overtures to J.J. about a shady business deal, but J.J. then challenges him about the apparent suicide of his assistant.

The U.S. government is rendered helpless when a group of Marklee Industries executives are held hostage aboard a Persian Gulf oil rig owned by Starbuck.

The leader of a religious cult in San Francisco tries to frame a senator's daughter -- his late son's girlfriend -- for her father's murder.

Starbuck and Tenspeed investigate a Philadelphia TV personality's murder, thought to be part of an all-out ratings war.