The Legacy Continues
after a 1st Place and Perfect Score in Brisket.
Since John's passing in 2013, his wife Marge, daughters, Kristi, Kara and Karla and many friends have been ensuring current and new customers were served. While under Paul and Clay's (John's son-in-law) leadership the trail of wins on the BBQ competition circuit continued.
In 2020 the family officially passed the Willingham flame to Paul Holden, a long time friend, John Willingham mentee, and the Willingham's River City Rooters (MIM) & Willingham's Village Porkers (KCBS) pitmaster.
Honored and humbled by the trust of the family, we are committed to excelling on the Willingham tradition and storied legacy of pushing the boundries of BBQ by developing new award winning products, introducing more "lost" formulas, and being active on the competition circuit and other community events with the Willingham's World Champion BBQ team. We look forward to continuing to share John's and our passion of bbq , cooking and techniques with friends, family and every person we meet.
We look forward to serving each of our customers and meeting as many as possible as we make our way around the country on the competition circuit or other events. Do not hesitate to give us a call, drop an email or stop in and say hello at contest. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep track of our events and progress.
Our Mission
A commitment to excellence and the integrity of every product we offer. A pledge to help everyone to discover the thrill and realization of the joys of bbq and the Willingham vision that a family that cooks together (as they play together) stays together.
teaming up for MIM 2013
W'ham®! The Best. No Brag, Just Fact.
Award-winning barbecue, again and again
Want award-winning barbecue? The Willingham team started winning awards in 1983 and never stopped. Today any cook can make award-winning barbecue (or at least crowd-pleasing barbecue!) by using Willingham's barbecue sauces and rubs.
Top Calls
| Year | Award | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | First Place Brisket (perfect 180 score!) | BBQ Boogie & Blues, Calhoun, GA |
| 2017 | People's Choice | Sip & Swine, Lawrenceville, GA |
| 2014 | First Place Sauce | Cornelia Apple Blossom Festival, Cornelia, GA |
| 2013 | First Place Chicken | Pigs and Peaches, Kennesaw, GA |
| 2013 | First Place Ribs | Atlanta BBQ Festival, Atlanta, GA |
| 2011 | People's Choice Best Butt in Town | Canton Pignic, Canton, GA |
| 2001 | First Place Chicken | Big Brother, Big Sister Charity BBQ, Lafayette, La. |
| 2000 | Best Sauce on the Planet | American Royal, Kansas City, Missouri |
| 1999 | Grand Champion | Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, Miss. |
| 1999 | Grand Champion, Best Ribs Overall | Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN |
| 1998 | First Place Ribs | Prim Valley BBQ Championship, Prim, NY |
| 1998 | First Place Whole Hog | Jack Daniel's Invitational, Lynchberg, TN |
| 1998 | Grand Champion | Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, MS |
| 1998 | Grand Champion | North Carolina State Championship, Tryon, N.C. |
| 1998 | Grand Champion | Prim Valley BBQ Championship, Prim, NY |
| 1997 | Grand Champion | Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, Miss. |
| 1997 | People's Choice | Smithsonian July 4th Invitational, Washington, D.C. |
| 1996 | Best Sauce | Arkansas BBQ Championship, Batesville, AR |
| 1996 | First Place Ribs | St. Jude/VFW BBQ Festival, Whitehaven, TN |
| 1996 | Grand Champion | St. Jude/VFW BBQ Festival, Whitehaven, TN |
| 1996 | People's Choice | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1995 | First Place Beef | Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS |
| 1995 | First Place Cajun Hot Sauce | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1995 | First Place Hot Sauce | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1995 | First Place Mild Vinegar Sauce | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1995 | First Place Seafood Pasta | Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS |
| 1995 | Grand Champion | Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS |
| 1994 | First Place Beef Brisket | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1994 | First Place Farmland Ribs | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1994 | Grand Champion | Miss. State Championship, Lexington, Miss. |
| 1994 | Reserve Grand Champion | North Carolina State Championship, Tryon, N.C. |
| 1992 | Best Sauce on the Planet | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1992 | First Piace Poultry | Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA |
| 1992 | First Piace Ribs | Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA |
| 1992 | First Piace Shoulder | Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA |
| 1992 | First Place "Skinner's Pasta" | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1992 | First Place Anything But Pork | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1992 | First Place Brisket | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1992 | First Place Lamb | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1992 | Grand Champion | Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA |
| 1992 | Grand Champion Chicken | American Pitmasters BBQ, Boston, Mass. |
| 1992 | Grand Champion People's Choice Ribs | Star Trib, Magis, MS |
| 1992 | Grand Champion Ribs | People's Choice, BBQ Festival, Norfolk, VA |
| 1992 | People's Choice | Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA |
| 1992 | Reserve Grand Champion | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1991 | First Place Brisket | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1991 | First Place Brisket | Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL |
| 1991 | First Place Ribs | Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL |
| 1991 | First Place Shoulder | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1991 | First Place Shoulder | Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL |
| 1991 | First Place Shoulder | City Fest, Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 1991 | First Place Whole Hog | Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL |
| 1991 | First Place Whole Hog | Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL |
| 1991 | First Place Whole Hog | City Fest, Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 1991 | Grand Champion | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1991 | Grand Champion | Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL |
| 1991 | Grand Champion | National Rib Cookoff, Cleveland, OH |
| 1990 | First Place Brisket | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1990 | First Place Shoulder | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1990 | First Place Whole Hog | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1990 | First Place Wings | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1990 | Grand Champion | National Rib Cookoff, Cleveland, OH |
| 1989 | First Place Lamb | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1989 | The Hickory Switch Award | Best "Que" in Memphis, TN |
| 1987 | First Place Spare Ribs | World's Best Ribs, Richmond, VA |
| 1987 | Grand Champion | World's Best Ribs, Richmond, VA |
| 1984 | First Place Beef | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1984 | First Place Lamb | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1984 | First Place Pork | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1984 | First Place Ribs | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1984 | Grand Champion | American Royal, Kansas City, MO |
| 1984 | Grand Champion | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1983 | First Place Ribs | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1983 | Grand Champion | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
Other Notable Appearances/Recognition
| Year | Award | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Featured on Martynas Starkus' Pasaulio Puodai (Pots of the World) on LRT.LT TV | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 2013 | Featured on Adam Richman's "Fandemonium" | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 2001 | Featured as "Best BBQ in Memphis, TN" | Chili Pepper Magazine |
| 2001 | Featured on Food Network's "Bobby Flay TV Show" | New York, NY |
| 2000 | Frito Lay's / Cross Creek Ranch | BBQ & Barn Dance, McKinney, TX |
| 1999 | Featured on Food Network's with Al Roker | New York, NY |
| 1998 | Best Cooker in the World | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1998 | Featured on "Home Cooking with Amy Coleman" | Vancouver, B.C. |
| 1998 | Featured on NBC Today Show's BBQ Special | New York, NY |
| 1997 | Best Cooker in the World | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1997 | Featured on "At Home on the Grill" PBS Special | Memphis, TN |
| 1997 | Featured on "Prime Time Live" at Memphis in May | Memphis, TN |
| 1996 | Best Que Offshore | Freeport McMoran Invitational, Gulf of Mexico |
| 1995 | The "Sony's" Best Barbeque in America | Long Island, NY |
| 1995 | The Quinn Award for Bar-B-Que Excellence | Jonesboro, AR |
| 1994 | Best Cooker in the World | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1993 | Best Cooker in the World | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1992 | Cook Team of the Year | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
| 1991 | Cook Team of the Year | Memphis In May, Memphis, TN |
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