Doesn’t anyone have anything to say about barbecue?
THE COVER STORY ON BARBECUE was great [“Smokin’!,” May 1997]; however, one thing was left out—a scratch-and-sniff page.
GORDON RUBINETT
Austin
I SUSPECT THAT THE OPENING LINE about a Texas legislator who should be ashamed of himself for making chili the official state dish twenty years ago was referring to me. I, along with Representative Ron Bird and others, authored and passed the legislation making chili the state dish. Barbecue was our closest rival, but chili prevailed because history was on our side. Chili was born in Texas and has spread from this state around the globe. I suggest that the birthplace of barbecue is unknown. I am proud to have had a part in making chili the state dish. Don’t get me wrong. There is no disputing taste. To each his own. I love a good plate of barbecue and consider myself a connoisseur of chili, barbecue, peanut patties, and feminine pulchritude. And we have a high quality of all of those right here in Marshall, the cultural center of the universe.
I should mention Ezell’s Bar-B-Q to you—the best-kept secret in Texas. He makes a rib sandwich you would not believe. The talent to eating a rib sandwich is, of course, to be able to eat with one side of the mouth and spit the bones out the other side. Ezell also makes a sauce so hot that it cured my ulcers—seared them over. I should also mention Neely’s Sandwich Shop, which was the hangout for Bill Moyers, Y. A. Tittle, and Joe Goulden in their youth.
BEN Z. GRANT
Marshall
I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND SEVERAL of my favorite BBQ places not listed: Gerard’s Bar-B-Que and Broussard’s Links in Beaumont.
R. HAYNES, Beaumont
… Rib Cage in Groves and Patillo’s in Beaumont.
KATHI ORGERON, Nederland
… Sam’s BBQ in Houston.
TED GRIGG, Humble
… Baker’s Ribs in Houston.
SAM HOUSTON KNUTSON, Houston
… Otto’s Barbecue and Hamburgers, Joel’s Bar-B-Q in Flatonia, Rudy’s Barbecue in Leon Springs, and Vernon’s Kountry Bar-B-Q in Conroe.
PAT CRANE, Conroe
… Harvey’s Bar-B-Que in Irving.
MIKE E. HOWARD, Irving
… Cyclone Corral Bar-B-Que in Cyclone.
JOHN T. YOUNG, JR., Midland
… Pat Gee just east of Tyler off Texas Highway 31.
RICK BOONE, Uvalde
… J.B.’s Bar-B-Que in Orange and West Texas BBQ north of Lumberton on Texas Highway 96.
LARRY MELTON, Beaumont
… Cooper’s Pit Bar-B-Q in Mason.
LAQUITA LINHART, Sugar Land
… the City Meat Market in Giddings.
BRIAN HANSON, College Station
… Smolik’s Market in Karnes City.
CHRIS SOMMER, Dallas
… Uncle Dan’s in Waco.
PAMELA PEARSON, Houston
… KC Masterpiece, Zarda BBQ, and Jake Edwards Bar-B-Que in Kansas City, Missouri.
LINDA SWITZER, New York, New York
… Tony Demaria’s Bar-B-Que in Waco.
STEVE BERGGREN, Waco
… Underwood’s Bar-B-Que in Waco and Brownwood.
RICKEY L. HARMAN, Lubbock
… Sammie’s Bar-B-Que in Fort Worth.
NANCY KIENZLE, Roanoke
… Cousin’s Barbecue in Fort Worth.
JUDY J. STAMEY, Fort Worth
… Bill’s Bar-B-Que in Kerrville.
PATRICK J. QUINN, Ingram
… Flashback Barbecue in Temple.
LOIS ARMENTA, Temple
… Stacy’s Bar-B-Que in Jacksonville. BILL BRIDGES, Palestine
… Dean’s Bar-B-Que and Catering in Beaumont.
WILLIAM CRUSE FUQUA, Beaumont
… North Main BBQ in Euless and Smitty’s Bar-B-Que in Brownwood.
LADD WEBBER, Dallas
… Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que in Smithville.
DAN M. ELKINS, Paige
… Rosedale BBQ, Wyandot BBQ, Summit Hickory Pit, and the Smokestack in Kansas City.
JOHN W. MARKS III, Houston
Band Aid
YOUR ARTICLE ON SOUTH by Southwest [“5,707 Schmoozers, 750 Bands, 29 Musical Cars, and 250 Gallons of Cream Gravy,” May 1997] features some amazingly accurate illustrations—except for the one purporting to show Michael Corcoran watching one of Austin’s two finest bands, the Damnations (the drummer is our son, Keith). The band Corcoran is enjoying is obviously Austin’s other best band, the Gourds (featuring our son-in-law, Kevin Russell, on mandolin, guitar, and vocals).
MYRNA AND DAVID KEITH LANGFORD
San Antonio
Moody Blues
AS ACCURATE AND APPROPRIATE as your article was about Tilman Fertitta and Galveston [“Big Fish,” May 1997], it was just as gratuitous and inappropriate in its character assassination of Robert Moody and the Moody family. They have long been intertwined with the history of Galveston. Their contributions to this community are legend and unparalleled.
BERNARD A. MILSTEIN
Galveston
Taxing Matters
I HAVE STILL NOT RECOVERED from “For an Income Tax” [Behind the Lines, May 1997]. You have been duped by the education lobby, which for years has been proposing a personal income tax in the name of quality education. We have pumped hundreds of millions of tax dollars into this theoretical quality education gambit, and we still have major education problems in our public schools. Your own surveys have shown this. But the education lobby’s beat for a personal income tax goes on!
JACK MATTHEWS
Fredericksburg
REGARDING A STATE INCOME TAX of 2 percent, I agree on two counts: It would be the most equitable and it has as much chance as an atheist in the Legislature—not a prayer.
JOHN RAINEY
Winnsboro
Storm Clearing
I AM CONCERNED THAT YOUR ARTICLE “Riders on the Storm” [July 1996] left a false impression concerning my occupation. I am the world’s only full-time professional storm photographer. I have a U.S. Service Mark Registration for the term “Storm Chaser,” as applied to my profession. Our chase team is a professional organization with close ties to the National Weather Service, law enforcement, the American Red Cross, and similar public and government agencies. We always act in a professional, law-abiding manner.
WARREN FAIDLEY
Tucson, Arizona
