Page 10 - FEB 2021 Digial Edition

My Portrait of Mike Mills
Since the late 1980’s we traveled the “BBQ Road” with some of the BEST of the BEST, including The Legend Mike Mills.
In the beginning there was Mike Mills, Pat Burke, the Apple City BBQ Team and Memphis in May. We were there as the Smoke- house BBQ Team from Douglas, Georgia. This is back when the thoughts of a Barbecue News Magazine and becoming a legend were just taking root.
Joe returned to our site and told us about this guy, Mike Mills from Murphysboro, IL and as they waited in line to get their buck- ets filled with water, they wished each other good luck in their ef- forts to take the stage. And, as always, Joe just happened to have one of his lucky pieces of silver and gave it to Mike for good luck as we were competing in different categories. The rest is history and Mike and Pat’s team took Grand. Joe “teared up” the first time he saw Mike proudly wearing that piece of silver around his neck!
From this day forward Mike Mills was family. We followed each other’s journey for more than 40 years and it took the Phelps Family to the ultimate place of respect for this gentleman who earned his title of “BBQ Legend”. Heaven continues to gain more of our BBQ family and I know they celebrated with another BBQ Reunion when Mike arrived. Mike was soooo easy to love and his BBQ hugs were off the chain!
Carlene Phelps
Barbec1ue News Magazine
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FEBRUARY 2021