John Willingham knew how to make great barbecue, and it was a passion throughout his life

John Willingham was famous for barbecue and the barbecue sauces and rubs he developed to enhance his great cooking techniques. A creative entrepreneur and inveterate tinkerer, he spent a big chunk of his long life in search of a more perfect way to barbecue. Forty years ago, he designed and received a patent on indirect cooking with the W’ham® Turbo Cooker, which kept the smoke away from the meat but sealed the flavor in.

In 1983, triumph! W’ham® ribs wowed the judges in the Memphis-in-May International Barbecue Festival. Willingham's® River City Rooters placed first in ribs, and the team was crowned World Grand Champion beating out the whole hog and shoulder champions. The following year, the team repeated that success at Memphis in May and later that year, proved it wasn’t just a Memphis thing winning Grand Champion at The American Royal in Kansas City. We still hold the record to this day of the only team to win both Memphis in May and The American Royal in the same year.  Those were the first in a long string of victories, culminating in John’s entry into the American Royal’s Hall of Fame, one barbecue’s top honors. Willingham's® cooking, seasoning, and barbecue sauces continue to win top awards every year!

Following the success on the competition circuit and with the restaurants in Memphis he established Whamco, Inc. /Willingham Associates in 1983 to distribute his line of award winning W’ham® seasonings, sauces and cookers.