Jim Quessenberry was born on May 3, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Birdeye, Arkansas — first in a portion of the 1903 W.M. Smith House at 10 CR 334, then at 3343 Highway 163 after his parents built across Pope Creek in 1956. Mississippi River bottom country, where whole-hog barbecue has been a way of life longer than anyone can remember. He grew up watching old-timers dig pit fires every Fourth of July, staying up all night with their goats and hogs while children were sent home to bed. Jim never forgot the injustice of that.
By the early 1980s he had built his own rig — a custom whole-hog smoker the size of a camper trailer, christened The Arkansas Trav'ler — and was hauling it to competitions across the country. Memphis. Kansas City. Des Moines. Cleveland. Wherever serious pitmasters gathered, the Arkansas Trav'ler showed up.
In 1985 he crossed the Atlantic to Fanore, County Clare, Ireland for the Irish Cup and won 1st place in beef and the Overall Championship. Two years later in 1987 he won the Irish Cup again, in Lisdoonvarna. Two-time World Champion. The only man from Arkansas to hold that title.
His recipes — Sauce Beautiful and Spice Beautiful — were born at home, after a vivid dream that gave Jim the recipe. He refined them on the circuit, batch by batch, tasted and adjusted until they did one thing perfectly: make great barbecue taste even better.
Jim passed in February 2000, at 51 years old. He left behind his wife Donna, his sons Lee and Michael, his right-hand-man Arthur, a notebook full of recipes, and a rig still smelling like hickory smoke. The sauce went quiet for a while. Then his sons picked up the tongs.
Accolades
- 1st Place Beef Division & Overall Champion — Irish Cup, Fanore, County Clare, Ireland (1985)
- Irish Cup — Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland (1987)
- Top 3 — KCBS American Royal, Kansas City
- BBQ Hall of Fame Semi-Finalist (2019, American Royal)
In Their Own Words & Others'
"I have never tasted a more tender, flavorful, seasoned-to-perfection barbecued hog in my lifetime. That hog should have won Jim the Grand Championship. Jim Quessenberry is an American original."
"He makes the best that I've tasted here. I mean, it is good stuff."
"Jim 'The Arkansas Trav'ler' Quessenberry — a serious contender for the Barbecue Hall of Fame."
Timeline
May 3, 1948
Born in Memphis, Tennessee
Second child of James Harrell Quessenberry Sr. and Clarah Anne Smith. After the war the family shares the 1903 house; in 1956 they build 3343 Highway 163, west of 163, across Pope Creek.
Late 1970s
Memphis in May — the pioneer years
One of a handful of teams in the earliest Memphis in May competitions, before it became the 'Super Bowl' of BBQ.
Early 1980s
The Arkansas Trav'ler hits the road
Builds his custom whole-hog smoker — a rig the size of a camper trailer — and starts competing nationally.
1985
1st World Championship — Irish Cup, Fanore
Crosses the Atlantic to Fanore, County Clare, Ireland for the Irish Cup. Wins 1st place in the beef division with his championship prime rib and takes the Overall Championship. First of two World titles.
1987
2nd World Championship — Irish Cup, Lisdoonvarna
Wins the Irish Cup again, this time in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Two-time World Champion — the only man from Arkansas to ever hold that title. Meets BBQ historian Ardie Davis at the American Royal and the two become lifelong friends.
Late 1980s
KCBS American Royal — Top 3
Places in the top three at the KCBS American Royal — the largest BBQ contest in the world at the time.
Early 1990s
Sauce Beautiful goes commercial
Jim, Donna, and young Lee launch the first commercial version of Sauce Beautiful and Spice Beautiful.
February 2000
Jim passes
Dies at age 51, leaving behind Donna, sons Lee and Michael, right-hand-man Arthur, a notebook of recipes, and a rig still smelling like hickory smoke.
2019
BBQ Hall of Fame Semi-Finalist
Named among the American Royal's top nine Barbecue Hall of Fame nominees, alongside Aaron Franklin and Meathead Goldwyn.
