Of course you know about the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. But did you know there is a Barbecue Hall of Fame?
The Barbecue Hall of Fame is administered by American Royal which is a non-profit organization in Kansas City. They give over $1 million annually for youth scholarships and agriculture education programs. Every year they hold a rodeo, horse shows, and a livestock show including the American Royal World Series of Barbecue which is one of the biggest, most prestigious BBQ competitions in the country.
Every year 9 people who are involved with barbecue are nominated and then three individuals will be inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Current inductees include names like Johnny Trigg, Myron Mixon, George Stephen, Sr., Ray Lampe, Melissa Cookston, Chris Lilly, Tuffy Stone, Tootsie Tomanetz, and C.B “Stubb” Stubblefield.
Looking at some past lists of nominees and those already inducted there appears to be 5 main categories from which the individuals are chosen. Of course there is some overlap but from what I can see competition barbecue, restaurant barbecue, backyard barbecue, barbecue media, and barbecue equipment and gear are represented.
So without me rambling any more here are the 9 nominees for the Barbecue Hall of Fame this year:
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William “Bill” Arnold – Bill Arnold is the man behind Blues Hog BBQ Sauce. This is my favorite sauce to use on pork belly burnt ends and is considered to be one of the best commercial sauces available.
Joe Don Davidson – Have you heard of Oklahoma Joe smokers? If so you have heard of Joe Don Davidson. He was the founder of Oklahoma Joe Smokers and from what I have seen they are one of the best mass market stick burners you can buy. Joe Don Davidson was also an accomplished bbq competitor winning the Jack Daniels championship and he also had a successful restaurant career.
Aaron Franklin – There are few people who have been more influential in bringing high quality barbecue to the mainstream than Aaron Franklin. His restaurant Franklin Barbecue is a mecca for bbq fans, his book Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto has started many backyard bbqers (me included) down the road of awesome brisket, and his Aaron Franklin Masterclass is one of the best video series on how to cook Texas barbecue.
Meathead Goldwyn – Meathead is the brains behind AmazingRibs.com and the Amazing Ribs Pitmasters Club. His book Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling is one of the most complete books on bbq you can find. He combines science with decades-old tradition to not only teach you how to make great barbecue but the “why” behind it.
John Markus – Through his BBQ Pitmasters show John Markus has brought the world of competiton barbecue to the masses. John has learned barbecue from some of the best in the business and regularly competes with his team Central Pork West.
Desiree Robinson – Desiree runs Cozy Corner BBQ which is a Memphis bbq staple. She started the restaurant with her husband in 1977 and still works at the restaurant.
Rodney Scott – Rodney Scott is a whole hog legend in South Carolina. He worked at his family bbq stop in Hemingway, SC until 2017 and then opened Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Charleston, SC. In 2018 he won the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Southeast.
Darren Warth – Darren started in his backyard in 2001, opened his first restaurant in 2007 (Smokey D’s BBQ in Des Moines, IA), won the American Royal in 2013 and again in 2016 and 2018, and has also won the Jack Daniels Invitational and the Houston Livestock and Rodeo BBQ. 5 world championships is nothing to scoff at!
Lee Ann Whippen – Lee Ann is the managing partner and pitmaster at Deviled Pig in Tampa. She also recently won the Master of ‘Cue contest on the Food Network and has also been seen on BBQ Pitmasters, Chopped, and other cooking competition shows.
Who Would I Pick as the Three Inductees?
Well, first of all I don’t get to officially vote. But if I did here are the three I would pick. Granted I don’t know a ton about all the nominees but I at least has cursory knowledge of most of them. I am not sure what criteria the official voters use but for me I want people who have influenced me, who have influenced many others, and who have helped bring barbecue to a wide range of people.
First I am picking Meathead Goldwyn. I love the way he brings science to the art of barbecue. Some of the science definitely confirms some of the decades old traditions, some of it contradicts it. Through his AmazingRibs.com site and the Pitmasters Club (which has 15,000 paying members which is amazing in its own right) he has developed a platform that has helped thousands upon thousands of backyard bbq warriors turn out some great ribs, briskets, steaks, and more.
Second I have to go with Aaron Franklin. Anyone who has eaten at his Austin, TX restaurant and tasted his brisket realizes he sets the gold standard for what a brisket should be. I ate there a while back and now every time I cook a brisket I am trying to make it at least close to what I tasted there. Franklin has inspired countless backyard barbecuers to make better barbecue. Aaron Franklin also readily shares that knowledge with others through his Youtube videos and his Masterclass (well worth the $90).
Those first two were easy for me and pretty much no-brainers. The third took a bit more thought but I am going to pick Rodney Scott. Anyone that can win a James Beard Award cooking barbecue has to be doing something right. Being able to cook a whole hog to perfection is a tough task and being able to do it day in, day out at a restaurant is very impressive.
Now, will those be the three inductees? I doubt it. I am guessing the voters will go with one of the “gear” guys like Joe Don Davidson or Bill Arnold just for variety.
Who would your inductees be?
