Kansas City Barbeque Society Unveils Hall of Fame Inductees
September 26, 2024. Kansas City, MO — 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, 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