Page 5 - MAY 2020 Barbecue News Magazine

cover story
BBQ HERO TRIBUTES
In the Wored of
BBQ, It’s the
Peopee you Meet
By: Mark & Gretchen Noordsy Certified Judge
KCBS, SCA, EAT
mnbbq@outlook.com
As we are in the middle of experiencing the impacts of COVID-19 and sheltering in place, we are probably finding time to scroll through Facebook or other social media. I saw one challenge where you list five famous people you had met or been in the proximity of and one you had not, and then your friends guessed which one you were fibbing about. Bored, as most of us are these days, I thought I would give it a whirl with BBQ icons and legends. My list included Johnny Trig, “Famous Dave” Anderson, Meathead Goldwin, Casey Jones, “Dr BBQ” Ray Lampe and Myron Mixon. Many of my friend’s picked out Casey Jones as the red herring in the list ... probably thinking I was referring to the railroad engineer from the 1900’s. Well, they were wrong. The one on my list I have not met or been near is Myron Mixon ... yet!
This month, I am going to introduce you to the next “Icons and Legends” in my periodic series, Casey and Judy Jones from Jacksonville, Florida, and their Miracle in the Kitchen cook team. The Jones’ have been fast risers on the Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) circuit with their impressive string of wins since they started in 2017. Their infectious
All photos courtesy of Miracle In The Kitchen positive energy, charisma and sense of humor, make them
someone you want to meet.
A little bit of history will help you better understand the Jones family and why they have such a positive outlook in all that they do.
It was a cold, sunny day in January of 2009 when Casey boarded a US Airways flight leaving LaGuardia on the first leg of his trip to head back home to Jacksonville. Every- thing changed only 2 minutes after takeoff when the plane collided with a flock of geese while only 2,900 feet off the ground. Captain Sullenberger was able to climb to 3,200 feet giving him a few more precious seconds as he worked out a landing solution. Casey, seated in seat 7A, immedi- ately knew something was wrong when the engine started to sound like tennis shoes tumbling in a dryer. Then, he heard the seven words no airplane passenger ever wants to hear, “this is the captain, brace for impact”. In the matter of only six minutes, Casey’s outlook on life would change as the plane was skillfully landed on the icy cold waters of the Hudson River instead of in Charlotte.
Your brain goes into overdrive in situations like this and Casey’s reminded him that he did not know how to swim! He was evacuated to the wing of the floating aircraft along with other passengers as they awaited rescue by the boats that rushed to assist. He missed getting on a small New York City Fire Department inflatable rescue boat because he was looking the wrong way at the time. Eventually, Casey was the last person rescued off the wing. Casey had a life vest on as he stepped from the wing to the ladder of the rescue boat – but, slipped and was now in the icy waters of the Hudson. As he landed in the water the vest slipped over his head, he’d forgotten to clip the last strap! As he began climbing the ladder again, he felt someone grab his belt and with their combined efforts he was safely aboard the rescue boat.
Casey (circled in red) waiting for the rescue boat while floating on the Hudson River
MAY 2020
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