Kansas City Barbeque Society Unveils Hall of Fame Inductees

Kansas City, Missouri Sep 27, 2024 (Issuewire.com)  - The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) is proud to announce the 2025 inductees into the KCBS Hall of Fame, honoring the most accomplished individuals in the world of competition barbeque. Established to recognize excellence in all aspects of barbeque, the KCBS Hall of Fame celebrates legendary Pitmasters, Certified Barbeque Judges, Contest Organizers, and Contest Representatives whose influence on barbeque is unparalleled. 

"The KCBS Hall of Fame allows us to recognize our best of the best,” said Joel Fleetwood, President of the KCBS Board of Directors. “It is the highest honor, and a celebration of their contributions to cooking and judging barbeque, as well as putting on world-class events either as a Representative or Organizer. KCBS proudly celebrates the inductees as leaders and trailblazers in barbeque."

The 2025 KCBS Hall of Fame inductees, collectively winning hundreds of Grand Championships and organizing some of the world’s most prestigious barbeque contests, have influenced the future of barbeque. Pitmaster inductee victories include iconic competitions like the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned, the American Royal World Series of Barbecue,  Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational, and countless state championships nationwide. 

Tuffy Stone, a 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, reflected on the role of KCBS in his barbeque career. “What started off as a hope to meet people and learn how to barbeque turned into so much more. KCBS led me on a journey that I could never have imagined. I am not alone.”

Together the inductees have collectively judged at, competed in and overseen tens of thousands of contests. The inductees embody the integrity and talent that has driven KCBS forward over its 38-year history and fulfill KCBS’s mission to celebrate, preserve, and promote the art and sport of barbeque. The Hall of Fame celebration will take place at the annual KCBS Awards Banquet on January 11, 2025. For event details and more information about the KCBS Hall of Fame and the 2025 inductees, please visit the KCBS Hall of Fame.

2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

Sterling Ball, Newport Beach, CA,  Pitmaster for Big Poppa Smokers

David Bouska, Chandler, OK, Pitmaster for Butcher BBQ 

Travis Clark, Oklahoma City, OK, Pitmaster for Clark Crew BBQ

Ardie Davis, Roeland Park, KS, Certified Barbeque Judge 

Rod Gray, Leawood, KS, Pitmaster for Pellet Envy

Paul Keltner, Mt. Pleasant, TN, Pitmaster for Rooters-N-Tooters TN

Brad Leighninger, Nixa, MO, Pitmaster for Gettin' Basted

John Nilges, Dakota Dunes, SD, Pitmaster for Parrothead Smokers

Dennis and Linda Polson, Lebo, KS, Contest Representatives

Ed Roith, Overland Park, KS, Certified Barbeque Judge 

Tim Scheer, New Haven, MO, Pitmaster for Shake 'N Bake BBQ

Tuffy Stone, Richmond, VA, Pitmaster for Cool Smoke

Tony Stone, Contest Organizer

Robert Vanderipe, Madison, AL, Pitmaster for Smoke Me Silly

Darren Warth, Ankeny, IA, Pitmaster for Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ

Kelly Wertz, Great Bend, KS, Pitmaster for 4 Legs Up

Mike Wozniak, Brimfield, IL, Pitmaster for Quau

Media Contact

Rhiannon Dickerson, Director of Marketing and Communication marketing@kcbs.us 816-765-5891 2519 Madison Ave Kansas City, MO 64108 https://www.kcbs.us/