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Texas State Dish
One could argue that the beginning of sustained and "organized" Texas chili cookoffs began in 1967 with the Terlingua Ranch cookoff held on land owned by Carroll Shelby, the automotive designer and race car driver, and Dallas Attorney David Witts.
After that? Well, you'll definitely want to read the articles below.
H.C.R. No. 18
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, One cannot be a true son or daughter of this state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, unadulterated Texas chili; and
WHEREAS, Texans continue today the tradition begun in San Antonio 140 years ago of making the best and only authentic concoction of this piquant delicacy; and
WHEREAS, President Lyndon B. Johnson commented that "chili concocted outside of Texas is a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing," and Will Rogers described Texas chili as "the bowl of blessedness"; and
WHEREAS, Texas has been the site of the annual International Chili Cook-Off since 1967 and is the home of the 1976 World Champion Chili Cooker, Albert Agnor, of Marshall; and
WHEREAS, It is customary for the legislature to designate certain state emblems in recognition of this state's great heritage and rich resources; and
WHEREAS, The beauty of Texas trees and flowers is represented by the pecan and bluebonnet and the mockingbird is emblematic of our abundant and varied wildlife, but the internationally esteemed cuisine of this great state had received no official recognition and has no official symbol; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, the Senate concurring, That the 65th Legislature in recognition of the fact that the only real "bowl of red" is that prepared by Texans, hereby proclaims chili as the "State Dish of Texas."
Chili became the official state dish of Texas when Governor Dolph Briscoe signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 18 (HCR 18) on May 11, 1977.
Texas Law
Texas State Dish: Chili
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Chili was adopted as the official state dish by concurrent resoltion and, therefore, is not listed in the Texas Statutes.
Only a small number of Texas' myriad symbols have been actually adopted by an act of the legislature and written into the Texas Statutes.
Sources...
"HCR 18, 65th Regular Session." The Legislative Reference Library of Texas. The State of Texas, n.d. Web. 19 Oct 2011. .
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.
Additional Information
Cowboy dishing up chili
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, LC-USF33-012209-M3]
History of Chili, Chili Con Carne: A history of chili from Lynn Stradley's "What's Cooking America?
History of the Terlingua Racing Team & the Terlingua International Chili Cookoff: Some pre-history of the Terlingua International Chili Cookoff by Bill Neale, most of it true!
Part One: In the Beginning: Follow John Raven's "The History of Chili Cook-Offs" in Texas, beginning with "Part One: In the Beginning." You'll want to go on to read:
- Part Two: Chili Competition Erupts in Terlingua
- Part Three: The Sixties; Terlingua Cook-Off Grows
- Part Four: Upheavals, Female Competitors and a Parting of the Ways
- Part Five: The Chili World Split in Two
A Bowl of Red: Official website of the Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff.
The Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc.: Official website and sanctioning organization for the Terlingua International Chili Championship.
Terlingua International Chili Champions!
| Year | Winner | From | Recipe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Source: "Champion Chili Cookers of the World By Year!" Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff. The Original Terlingua Championship Chili Cook-off, Inc., 2011. Web. 03 Nov 2011. . | ||||
| 1967 | (Tie) H. Alan Smith
Wick Fowler |
Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
Austin, Tex. |
H. Allen Smith / Wick Fowler | |
| 1968 | "Wino" Woody DeSilva | Ontario, Calif. | Woody DeSilva's Champion Chili | |
| 1969 | C.V. Wood Jr. | Havasu, Ariz. | C.V. Woods Worlds Championship Chili | |
| 1970 | Wick Fowler | Austin, Tex. | 2 Alarm Chili | |
| 1971 | George Wright | Dallas, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1972 | Howard Winsor | Dallas, Tex. | Howard Winsor World Champion Chili | |
| 1973 | Joe DeFrates | Springield, Ill. | Chilli Man Chilli | |
| 1974 | Allegani Jani Schofield | Fredericksburg, Tex. | Allegani Janis Chili | |
| 1975 | Susie Watson | Houston, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1976 | Albert S. Agnor | Marshall, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1977 | Tom Griffin | Houston, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1978 | Richard Simon | San Antonio, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1979 | Wayland Walker | Ardmore, Okla. | Recipe | |
| 1980 | Bob Moore | Spring, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1981 | Bill Douglas | Garland, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1982 | Tom Skipper | Pasadena, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1983 | Paul Brian | Dallas, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1984 | Steve Weaver | Leonard, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1985 | Wes Ritchey | Garland, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1986 | Bobby Aldridge | Shreveport, La. | Recipe | |
| 1987 | David Henson | Mesquite, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1988 | Lynn Hejtmancik | Spicewood, Tex. | Pedernales River Rat Chili | |
| 1989 | Barbara Britton | Mesquite, Tex. | Yahoo Chili | |
| 1990 | Jerry Hunt | Shreveport, La. | High Octane Chili | |
| 1991 | Doris Coats | Irving, Tex. | Out-O-Site Chili | |
| 1992 | Cindy Reed | Irving, Tex. | Cin-Chili Chili | |
| 1993 | Cindy Reed | Irving, Tex. | Cin-Chili Chili | |
| 1994 | Jim Hedrick | Roanoke, Va. | Doc J's Chili | |
| 1995 | Colleen Wallace | Dallas, Tex. | Sierra Chili | |
| 1996 | Bo Prewitt | North Little Rock, Ark. | Recipe | |
| 1997 | Glenn Dickey | Arlington, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1998 | Carol West | Wylie, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 1999 | Bob Coats | Irving, Tex. | Out O Site Chili, Too | |
| 2000 | Dixie Johnson | Lamar, Mo. | Bess's Best Chili | |
| 2001 | Randy Moore | Gulf Shores, Al. | Randy's Fool's Gold Chili | |
| 2002 | Pat Pilchiek | Bluffton, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 2003 | Honey Jones | Canyon Lake, Tex. | Horseshoe Chili | |
| 2004 | Roger Foltz/td> | Mesquite, Tex. | Roger's Recipe | |
| 2005 | Margaret Nadeau | Boerne, Tex. | Sahara Chili | |
| 2006 | Dana Plocheck | Houston, Tex. | Lady Bug Chili | |
| 2007 | Debbie Ashman | Bastrop, Tex. | Deb's Hot Rod Chili | |
| 2008 | Susan Dean | Johnson City, Tex. | Chilli Chili 2 | |
| 2009 | Margaret Nadeau | Boerne, Tex. | Sahara Chili | |
| 2010 | Tom Dozier | Irving, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 2011 | George Odom | Manchaca, Tex. | Recipe | |
| 2012 | Ted Hume III | Dallas, Tex. | Recipe | |
International Chili Society: Official website and sanctioning organization for the International Chili Society World Championship Chili Cook-Off®.
International Chili Society World Championship Chili Cook-Off® Winners
| Year | Winner | From | Cook-Off Location | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Source: "WCCC Recipies." International Chili Society. International Chili Society, 2011. Web. 20 Oct 2011. . | ||||
| 1967 | H. Alan Smith / Wick Fowler | New York/Texas | Terlingua, Tex. | H. Allen Smith / Wick Fowler |
| 1968 | Woody DeSilva | Ontario, Calif. | Terlingua, Tex. | Woody DeSilva's Champion Chili |
| 1969 | C.V. Wood | Havasu, Ariz. | Terlingua, Tex. | C.V. Woods Worlds Championship Chili |
| 1970 | Wick Fowler | Austin, Tex. | Terlingua, Tex. | 2 Alarm Chili |
| 1971 | C.V. Wood | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Terlingua, Tex. | C.V. Woods Worlds Championship Chili |
| 1972 | Howard Winsor | Colorado | Terlingua, Tex. | Howard Winsor World Champion Chili |
| 1973 | Joe DeFrates | Springield, Ill. | Terlingua, Tex. | Chilli Man Chilli |
| 1974 | Allegani Jani Schofield | Fredericksburg, Tex. | Terlingua, Tex. | Allegani Janis Chili |
| 1975 | Joe DeFrates | Springield, Ill. | Rosamond, Calif. | Chilli Man Chilli |
| 1976 | Rudy Valdez | Palmdale, Calif. | Rosamond, Calif. | Rudy Valdez World Champion Chili |
| 1977 | Jay Pennington | Rosamond, Calif. | Rosamond, Calif. | Jay's Chili |
| 1978 | Laverne Harris | Las Vegas, Nev. | Rosamond, Calif. | Nevada Annie's Champion Chili |
| 1979 | Joe & Shirley Stewart | Rosamond, Calif. | Reno Red | |
| 1980 | Bill Pfeiffer | San Antonio, Tex. | Agoura Hills, Calif. | Capitol Punishment |
| 1981 | Fred & Linda Drexel | Inglewood Park, Calif. | Butterfield Stage Line Chili | |
| 1982 | Bill Pfeiffer | San Antonio, Tex. | Burbank, Calif. | Los Venganza Del Almo |
| 1983 | Harold Timber | Taos, N.M. | Rosamond, Calif. | Harold Timber World Champion Chili |
| 1984 | Dusty Hudspeth | Irving, Tex. | Rosamond, Calif. | Bottom Of The Barrel Gang Ram Tough Chili |
| 1985 | Carol & Dave Hancock | Rosamond, Calif. | Shotgun Willie Chili | |
| 1986 | Jim Beaty | Rosamond, Calif. | Sespe Creek Chili | |
| 1987 | Margo Knudson | Loomis, Calif. | Rosamond, Calif. | Margo's Chili |
| 1988 | Kenton Stafford | Fillmore, Calif. | Rosamond, Calif. | 7/8's Chili |
| 1989 | Philip M. Walter | Seatle, Wash. | Rosamond, Calif. | Tarantula Jacks Thundering Herd Buffalo Tail Chili |
| 1990 | David Valega | Bethany, Okla. | Rosamond, Calif. | Backdoor Chili |
| 1991 | Randy Robinson | Columbus, Ohio | Rosamond, Calif. | Road Meat Chili |
| 1992 | Ed Pierczynksi | Carson City, Nev. | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Doc's Secret Remdy |
| 1993 | Cathy R. Wilkey | Seattle, Wash. | Reno, Nev. | Puppy's Breath Chili |
| 1994 | Bill Ray | Riverside, Calif. | Reno, Nev. | Mountain Express Chili |
| 1995 | Norm Gaul | Costa Mesa, Calif. | Reno, Nev. | A-H Reamer Chili Company |
| 1996 | Georgia Weller | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Reno, Nev. | Southern Chili Georgia Style |
| 1997 | Steve Falkowski | Hopewell Junction, N.Y. | Reno, Nev. | Gold Miners Chili |
| 1998 | Kathy LeGear | Dallas, Tex. | Las Vegas, Nev. | 24 Karat Chili |
| 1999 | Maud Swick | Bakersfield, Calif. | Las Vegas, Nev. | Zanjero Red Chili |
| 2000 | Jim Weller | Bloomfield, Mich. | Laughlin, Nev. | Jim Weller's Macktown Chili |
| 2001 | George Swick | Bakersfield, Calif. | Reno, Nev. | Swick and Swick Chili |
| 2002 | Ron Burt | Lancaster, Calif. | Reno, Nev. | Warning Shot Chili - Runs for Your Life |
| 2003 | Bob Wetzel | Manhattan, Mont. | Reno, Nev. | Bronco Bob's Chili |
| 2004 | Kathy Hipskind | Lodi, Calif. | Las Vegas, Nev. | Dago Reds Wop 'n Good Chili |
| 2005 | Doug Wilkey | Shoreline, Wash. | Omaha, Neb. | Dog Breath Chili |
| 2006 | J.R. Knudson | Omaha, Neb. | .R.'s Rough and Ready Chili | |
| 2007 | Jerry Buma | Omaha, Neb. | Boomas Revenge | |
| 2008 | Georgia Weller | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Elk Grove, Calif. | Southern Chili Georgia Style |
| 2009 | Maureen Barrett | La Grange, Ill. | Charleston, W.V. | Maureen's Almost Famous Red Chili |
| 2010 | Thomas H. Hoover, Jr. | Columbus, Ohio | Manchester, N.H. | 2010 Happy Trails Chili |
| 2011 | John Jepson | Merced, Calif. | Manchester, N.H. | John's Chili |
State foods: Complete list of official state foods from NETSTATE.COM.
More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Texas state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.
With or Without Beans
Joe E. Cooper
With or Without Beans: An Informal Biography of Chili, by Joe E. Cooper. 247 pages. Publisher: William H. Henson (1952) A compendium to perpetuate the internationally-famous Bowl Of Chili (Texas Style). Not strictly a cookbook, With or Without Beans is a book of wit, philosophy, humor, history and whimsey with some "bowl of red" receipe's and chili making methods of various men who made chili including the comments and writings of over a hundred statesmen, authors, military men, journalists and humorists on the subject.
A Bowl of Red
Frank X. Tolbert
A Bowl of Red, by Frank X. Tolbert. 200 pages. Publisher: TAMU Press (January 2, 2002) Written by the late Dallas newspaper columnist, author, and namesake of Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff, A Bowl of Red is an entertaining history of the peppery cowboy cuisine. This new printing of the book is based on Tolbert's 1972 revised edition, in which he describes the founding of the World Championship Chili Cookoff, now held annually in the ghost town of Terlingua, Texas.
Foreword by Hallie Crawford Stillwell: For this edition, Big Bend resident rancher Hallie Stillwell has added her voice and favorite chili recipe to her friend Frank X. Tolbert's classic book, A Bowl of Red.
Hallie Stillwell was one of the three judges at the first Terlingua cookoff, held in 1967. "We were blindfolded to sample the chili," the ninety-six-year-old writer/rancher says in her foreword. She voted for one of the milder concoctions; another judge cast his vote for a hotter version. The third judge, who was mayor of Terlingua, sampled each pot but then pronounced his taste buds paralyzed and declared the contest a tie. There's been a "rematch" in Terlingua every November since then. "I have never failed to attend," Stillwell says.
The Ultimate
Chili Cookbook
W. C. Jameson
The Ultimate Chili Cookbook, by W. C. Jameson. 219 pages. Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (February 17, 1999) More than any other food, a big ol' steaming hot bowl of chili is recognized as the premier Texas dish. This book explores the long history of chili, from the early San Antonio Chili Queens to the many different cultural approaches to preparing chili that have evolved throughout the U.S. It also includes fascinating folklore and over 135 mouth-watering recipes for this most favored dish.
Killer Chili
Stephanie Anderson
Killer Chili: Savory Recipes from North America's Favorite Restaurants, by Stephanie Anderson. 112 pages. Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 16, 2007) Killer Chili serves up the hottest chili recipes from 50 renowned restaurants in the US and Canada. Filled with savory secret formulas, including a beer-laden chorizosausage chili, a tempting Cape Cod seafood variety, a meatless Southwestern vegetable chili, and a rosemary-flavored Tuscan version, this cookbook contains old favorites, exotic new twists, and everything in between to satisfy any cravingfor a steaming bowl of red.
Texas Braggin' Rights
Barry Shlachter
Texas Braggin' Rights: Winning Recipes of the Best Texas Cook-Offs, by Barry Shlachter. 80 pages. Publisher: Great Texas Line; 14th Prntg edition (October 5, 2008) Winning recipes of the state's best cook-offs, includes dishes that took top honors at the State Fair of Texas, the Stonewall Peach JAMboree, Black-Eyed Pea Festival, and many others. 80 pages, paperback with comb binding.
Wick Fowler's Chili Kits
Ass Kickin' Chili Fixins: Includes a combination of spices that makes a bowl of red chili that's beyond compare. Masa flour, habanero peppers, pinto and black beans packaged separately and sewn up in an authentic Southwest cloth bag. To control the quality and consistency of our habanero peppers we raise our own peppers. Makes a great gift.
"We have been buying Ass Kickin Chili Fixins for a number of years and really like it. We have used for gifts to friends who want our recipe. WARNING: Use the ground habanero pepper packet sparingly. We measured it out and only used 1/4 tsp. and our chili was plenty hot."
Chili seasoning
The Chili House: Official website of Albert Agnor's Championship Chili Seasonings. Legendary in Harrison County, Texas, for four generations, Albert Agnor's chili recipe was the winner of the "Championship Chili Cook-off" in Terlingua, Texas in 1976.
All Seasonings are made fresh and mixed at the Agnor Family's historic Millstone Farm. The Agnor Chili recipe, a family legend that was made famous in their home town of Marshall by Albert's Mother, Dee Patillo Agnor, was passed down from her "Poppa," Frank Patillo.
