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Mike Mills inducted in the National BBQ Hall of Fame

MEMPHIS -- Mike Mills of 17th Street Bar & Grill, Southern Illinois, and Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, and John Willingham of Willingham's, Memphis, Tennessee, were inducted into BBQ Hall of Fame at the recent National Barbecue Association Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee. 

"This was a huge surprise," said Mike Mills. "I feel extremely fortunate. To barbecue every day and make a living doing it? I'm living my version of the great American Dream."

The awards presentation was all the more special because Mills and Willingham are old friends and competitors. 

"John Willingham has forgotten more about barbecue than most of us knew to begin with," Mills said. "To stand on a stage together and for both of us to be recognized for what we do, amongst our peers? Well, that is a big WOW."

"Oh, boy. Oh, gosh," was Willingham's reaction. "I love that barbecue, which is a central part of a good Southern celebration, is now embraced by people all over the country. People from all walks of life come together and it's become the new American sport. It's so exciting to see the evolution in the past 30 years."

Inductees are nominated by their peers and undergo a rigorous screening process. Mills and Willingham are the sixth and seventh members of this prestigious group. Past honorees include Carolyn Wells and Gary Wells, founders of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, Dr. Rich Davis, founder of KC Masterpiece, Speed Herrig of Cookies in Iowa, and the late Fred Gould, barbecue judge and volunteer extraordinaire. The National BBQ Hall of Fame is governed by a two-tier top-secret committee who evaluates the nominees. 

"The character and accomplishments of the inductees must be impeccable and the vote must be unanimous," explained Mike Davis of Lotta Bull and Committee representative. "If any one person receives a 'no' vote, then he or she is removed from consideration. Only a very small percentage of the nominees will be inducted each year. That's by design." 

The National BBQ Hall of Fame was created in order to recognize and preserve the names of individuals and organizations who have excelled in the world of barbecue. 

"We feel that the Hall of Fame is an important representation of our culture as it promotes the art of outdoor cooking, family values, and the preservation of the history of barbecue," said Mike Tucker, one of the National BBQ Hall of Fame founders. To learn more, log onto http://www.barbecuehalloffame.com

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About John Willingham 
John Willingham is one of the most revered names in barbecue, spanning 40 plus years as a competitor, judge, author, restaurateur, inventor, and worldwide ambassador. John has won back-to-back grand champions at Memphis in May. He is the only third time grand champion of the American Royal and the only grand champion of the American Royal and Memphis in May in the same year. 

About Mike Mills
In the world of barbecue, champion pitmaster Mike MIlls is affectionately known as "The Legend." He presides over the pits at his seven nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurants—four 17th Street Bar & Grill restaurants in Southern Illinois and three Memphis Championship Barbecue restaurants in Las Vegas. In the early 1990s he was co-captain of the Apple City Barbecue team, one of the most celebrated teams ever on the circuit. He is a four-time World Champion and three-time Grand World Champion at Memphis in May, otherwise known as the Super Bowl of Swine. He is also the 1992 Grand Champion of the Jack Daniel's World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest and he won the Jack Daniel's Sauce Contest that year as well. Mike is the barbecue guru at and a partner in Blue Smoke restaurant in New York City. His book, Peace, Love, and Barbecue was nominated for a 2006 James Beard Foundation award and received the 2006 National Barbecue Association Award of Excellence. In October 2008 he was honored with the Pioneer of Barbecue award at the Jack Daniel's World Invitational Barbecue Cooking Contest. 



photo courtesy of Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn and http://www.amazingribs.com

Mike Mills of 17th Street Bar & Grill, Southern Illinois, and John Willingham of Willingham's, Memphis, Tennessee at the Awards Ceremony held during the National Barbecue Association Convention in Memphis, Tennessee.

Two People Inducted into The National BBQ Hall of Fame
by: Mike Tucker

Two Men were inducted into the National BBQ Hall of Fame in 2008. They were recognized at the Lakeland, Florida Pig Festival on January 30th, 2009. The Spokesman for the BBQ Hall of Fame is Mike Davis, of LottaBull BBQ. Mike is an accomplished BBQ competitor, a good family man, and a true asset to the BBQ Hall of Fame. 

Mikes' presentation went as follows:
This year only two individuals made it through the rigorous committees and today we are inducting them because of the significant impact and contributions they have made on the bbq community.

The first inductee we would like to recognize tonight was involved in MIM and KCBS BBQ communities for over 20 years. Serving as organizer, promoter, meat inspector, electrician, RV mechanic, Master Judge, Table Captain, Contest Rep, and the list goes on. He was in fact the "get it done man" rain or shine. He was probably the most proficient and innovative meat inspector in KCBS. In fact, his views and guidelines have been adopted by many and are viewed as the standard for inspections at today's contests. 

But, he was the man behind the scenes for the most part. Never looking for limelight, but it seemed to find him at times. Always willing to jump in, and do more than his share, it usually got him in deeper than he wanted, but that was okay too. He scouted things to do and fix. He loved being involved in BBQ and the folks connected with it, even spending months planning parking for an event such as "The Jack". Tana knew she could count on him to handle it, making one less thing she had to worry about. He worked countless hours in Winchester, TN for the High on the Hog Contest, getting electricity just right for the cookers. In fact, at the last Christmas party we all attended together, he remarked that all of the electricity was in, and everything was ahead of schedule. He didn't know why, but he was very proud of it, and in January 2008 when he suddenly passed away, we found out why. 

He left his friends here in the BBQ community for a better seat in the house. I guess the good Lord needed a little fixing up there as well. So, on behalf of the BBQHOF, the BBQ Forum, and Hawgeyes BBQ, it is with great honor and pleasure to name one of the inductees into the BBQHOF for 2008.............Mr. Fred Gould 

The second inductee is a man who has taken a small one-man operation and turned it into one of the largest regional sauce manufacturers in the country. He started by selling his friends sauce out of the back of his pickup truck to local stores and restaurants. He was so successful, he eventually bought the company from a friend, and today that sauce is available in 34 States. Along the way he has not forgotten to give back to the community, and the world of BBQ.

He was one of the founding members of the Iowa BBQ Society. Without his help, those few first years and the first few contests the IBS put on, would not have happened. Through these contests the IBS has funded numerous charitable events including many that he still participate in. 

*Helped to acquire the Iowa Governor's proclamation for "Senior Q Month", now a nationwide event celebrating or senior citizens. It was the first in the nation.
*He provides food for the five senior care centers for Senior Q Month.
*He promotes the world of barbecue for the National Pork Boards World Pork Expo and the Barbeqlossal.
*He promotes Barbecue with cooking segments on TV and Radio across Iowa.
*He hosts 50 inner city youth at his plant to help educate them in the art of barbecue through the R.I.B.S. for Kids program along with the Iowa Barbecue Society. This program has just completed its seventh year. 
*He cooks and packages 1000-2000 pounds of meat for the IBS tree and food giveaway at the Salvation Army and Urban Dreams in Des Moines every Christmas since its inception in 1999. 
*He has also worked with the National Guard to raise 40-50,000 dollars to buy phone cards for our troops.

The list goes on, but we won't tonight. So, on behalf of the BBQHOF, the BBQ Forum and Hawgeyes BBQ, it is with great honor and pleasure that I present to you the second 2008 inductee into the BBQHOF, the owner of Cookies BBQ Sauce Company of Wall Lake, Iowa........Mr. Speed Herrig. 

Speed Herrig flew down with his wife Judy to accept his award. Fred Goulds Widow will be accepting on behalf of Fred Gould at the Winchester, Tn "High on the Hog" Contest. The BBQ Hall of Fame is currently accepting nominations for the 2009 inductees.