John Willingham knew how to make great barbecue, and it was a passion throughout his life.
“John Willingham was a true legend of barbecue,” said the organizers of the Memphis in May Festival, “winning awards everywhere he cooked, and winning friends at every stop with his own brand of wisdom, humor and kindness.” The contest organizers termed him “the most acclaimed barbecue chef in the world.”
In 2012, John was inducted into the American Royal’s Hall of Fame, barbecue’s top honor. The award recognizes contributions to the advancement of barbecue by individuals in the competitive, business and entertainment communities.
He knew how to make great barbecue, and a lot more
John, a former St. Louis Cardinal baseball player, invented more than just a better way to cook barbecue.
His other patented ideas included:
- A prefabricated construction technique known as the “Wham T” method, used in numerous buildings around the world.
- A device known as the “Harmonic Stress Reducer,” one of which was acquired by Muhammad Ali.
- And…a nasal spray bottle!
Enduring genius
John died in May 2013, at 80. He’s best remembered for his barbecue genius, which you can taste in every Willingham’s barbecue sauce and seasoning. Cooks who want to make great barbecue know that Willingham’s is a secret weapon.
I Believe
If you don’t believe you can,
you won’t.
If you always wonder if you should,
You will never know if you could.
And
if you never try,
you will forever wonder why?
What could have been
But never was
is
because you didn’t try.
Written by John H. Willingham
Dedicated to Ida Vaunceil and Elmer L. Willingham
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.
Major Awards
| Year | Award | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | People’s Choice | Sip & Swine, Lawerenceville, GA |
| 2014 | First Place Sauce | Cornelia Apple Blossom Festiavl, 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 Appearences/Recognition
| Year | Award | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |