John Fullilove Lockhart barbecue pitmaster died, Texas mourns his death

John Fullilove Death – According to his obituary in the Lockhart Post-Register, John Fullilove, the beloved pitmaster of Smitty’s Market, passed away on January 2 “with his beloved chihuahua, Lulu, right by his side.” Fullilove, a Lockhart barbeque kingpin, was born into the family that owned Kreuz Market, which was established in 1900 and bought by his maternal grandpa, Edgar “Smitty” Schmidt, in 1948. Fullilove, also known as “Bundy,” was raised in Lockhart but was born in Austin on August 2, 1973, and his initial plans did not include joining the family business.

John Fullilove was rank among the top 5

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority’s wastewater operator, however, made a sudden and fortunate career shift in 1999. As a result of the great Lockhart barbecue battle, which resulted in the establishment of rival restaurants Smitty’s and Kreuz less than half a mile apart, Fullilove was hired as the pitmaster at Smitty’s. During the time he was smoking meats, Smitty’s was frequently ranked among the best Texas barbecue restaurants. Fullilove made the top five in 2003 and was featured on the cover of Texas Monthly. Smitty’s kept its prestigious spot in the crowded Texas barbecue market four years later.

Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor

“This place is still the proud bulwark of tradition it has always been. May it not alter, “Pat Sharpe, a cuisine writer for Texas Monthly, published that year. However, a July 2013 article in Texas Monthly claimed that Fullilove left Smitty’s at some point during the preceding year to assist his cousin in opening Schmidt Family Barbecue in Bee Cave, west of Austin. According to Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn, the transition was timed with a change in power among Lockhart’s barbecue elite.

“The bad news is that John Fullilove’s departure from Smitty’s may have been a major contributing factor in the decline of their food,” Vaughn wrote. Fullilove spent his later years working with cattle on the family farm and in the Smitty’s office managing operations at the restaurant, according to his obituary in the Lockhart Post-Register. He was buried in the Lockhart City Cemetery after his funeral, which was held in Lockhart on Saturday, January 7.

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