The Arkansas Trav'ler Legacy: From 1980s Competition Pits to Your Backyard Grill

Jim Quessenberry didn't just compete in barbecue contests.
He lived the philosophy of it.

He called himself Ph.B. — Philosopher of Barbecue — and he backed it up with fire, flavor, and a larger-than-life Arkansas personality that turned every cookout into a story worth telling.

Pioneer of the Competition Circuit

Jim was a true pioneer who competed at the very first Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in 1978, returning every year through 1994 — over 15 years on the circuit. In the mid-1980s, he formalized his crew as the Arkansas Trav'ler Cooking Team out of Northeast Arkansas, smoking under the lights in Tom Lee Park and trading stories (and rubs) with the best pitmasters in the country.

But Jim's biggest stage was international. In 1985 and again in 1987, the Arkansas Trav'ler team traveled to Lisdoonvarna, Ireland and won the Irish Cup International Barbecue Contest — two-time World Champions. Those victories weren't just trophies. They were proof that an Arkansas family recipe could stand toe-to-toe with the world.

The sauces and rubs you see today — Sauce Beautiful Original, White, Hot, Gold, and Spice Beautiful Hickory & Original — were all born on those competition circuits in the 1980s. Jim created them as finishing sauces and table sauces, not just cooking sauces. He'd apply the final glaze about 30 minutes before pulling ribs or shoulders off the smoker so the flavors could marry perfectly with the smoke. No shortcuts. No store-bought bases. Just pure, small-batch championship flavor perfected in the pits.

Early 1980s

First Memphis in May (1978); Arkansas Trav'ler formalized in the mid-1980s

1985 & 1987

Irish Cup World Champions, Lisdoonvarna, Ireland — Two-time world champions

1989

Young Lee & Michael rubbing ribs on camera — ages 7 & 5 learning the craft

1990–1993

Memphis in May appearances with local Channel 3 news coverage

The Next Generation Learning the Craft

His sons, Lee and Michael, grew up right in the middle of it. In 1989, at ages 7 and 5, they were already on camera rubbing ribs, giving tips, and learning the craft the old-school way. (We still have the footage — watch the Throwback Thursday video below.) By 1990 and 1993, the whole family was in Memphis in May. Jim was featured on local Channel 3 news, and today Lee and Michael provide running commentary on the original contest tapes so you can feel what it was really like.

The Fire Never Went Out

Jim passed in 2000, but the fire never died. Lee and Michael picked up the tongs, resurrected Dad's exact original recipes, and turned the family passion into the brand you see today. They first brought the sauces to market through Bluff City BBQ Supply in Memphis (2014), then focused the entire line under the Jim Quessenberry name. Same small-batch approach. Same Trav'ler team spirit. Same "We put the Q in BBQ!" attitude that makes people smile and come back for seconds.

Today you'll find us in Arkansas grocery stores, online, and — most importantly — in backyards across the country where families are making new memories with the same championship flavors Jim won the world with.