In Memoriam
Dr. Rich Davis 1926-2015
Dr. Rich Davis 1926-2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Jill Silva, food editor for the Kansas City Star, shared her reminiscences of Dr. Davis.
The inventor of KC Masterpiece sauce and a legend in the world of barbecue, Dr. Rich Davis, has died. Many years ago, as a new food editor trying to get my bearings, Dr. Davis invited me to dinner at his home. He was hosting his good friend, the cookbook author Sheila Lukins of Silver Palate fame.
Lukins was from New York and had a Dean & Deluca palate long before the gourmet store had arrived in Kansas. His wife made a delicious chilled leek soup and he asked chefs Debbie Gold and Michael Smith, then at the American Restaurant, to roast and deliver a suckling pig. At the end of the evening Dr. Davis thanked me profusely for accepting his invitation, but having been asked to share a meal with such a warm and welcoming host was truly my honor.
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que shared their feelings.
It is with genuine sadness that we learned today of the passing of a true Kansas City legend. Rich Davis, the creator and entrepreneur behind KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce, died last night. He was an amazing intellect, a tireless and cheerful ambassador for Kansas City barbecue, and one of the reasons Kansas City is The Barbecue Capital of the World.
(Photo tribute by The American Royal Association Barbecue Hall of Fame)