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Eulogy to John C. Stevens: July 31, 1938-May 6, 2009
By Ron Harwell
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Photo courtesy of Stephen Smith
Say, I didn’t know goatees were fashionable back in 1999!
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By the time I first got involved in barbecue back in the early nineties, JC was already well established and very well respected in the barbecue community all across the United States. Many people have asked both him and me over the years how we became such good friends, especially since our personalities seemed so different. I don’t have an answer for that, other than to say that until he became too sick to travel, it was not uncommon to see John and I sharing Contest Rep or CBJ class duties just about anywhere east of the Mississippi River. Also the first weekend in October, he and I were roommates several times at The American Royal in Kansas City. Ours was a friendship that lasted right up until JC took his last breath!
John was the oldest son of tenant farmers, although he totally disliked the farm life – especially the constant moving. In school, he liked to read and write which certainly carried over to his barbecue years! I’ve noticed that more than one barbecue writer (including yours truly) has adapted some of JC’s mannerisms. His school noticed his intelligence and wanted to advance him several grades but he wanted no part of being separated from his classmates. Then on his seventeenth birthday, he showed up at his home with an Army Recruiter and asked his Mom to sign for him to join the Army (which she did). John enlisted, took his basic training at Boot Hill in Fort Jackson, SC and was then assigned to Fort Benning, GA before completing three tours of duty in Vietnam. It was on one of those tours he was awarded a Bronze Star. After advancing to the rank of Sergeant, he was discharged on Feb. 15, 1968 due to injuries received in Vietnam although it was the exposure to Agent Orange which lead to most of the medical issues he had later in life.
John did not speak to many folks about his Army years but because of the rapport we had by me being an Army brat myself, he and I could talk about anything. More than once he shared some of his Army experiences with me. Around the mid-1980’s he also became interested in barbecue and that was something he remained very passionate about throughout the remainder of his life.. When we first met, he was already writing a monthly column for several national barbecue publications and as indicated above, was already very well known and respected all across the USA. In recent months, every time we talked, he never failed to ask about different folks or events. When we were together at a contest, the one thing you could count on from us is that we would be asking the locals where the best seafood restaurant was – even if it were miles away. If we could get there in a reasonable amount of driving time that would be where we would have at least one meal during the weekend.
Herman (JC’s brother) called me within approximately 10 minutes of JC’s passing and I immediately notified several close mutual friends that had been in contact with me the last few months. Byron in particular just happened to read his e-mail from me within a few minutes of it being sent. It seems more than coincidental that he had just returned from the local fish market and was preparing a fresh shrimp dish using his Jubilee seasoning – which was JC’s favorite. No doubt, that would have been a meal Sarge would have enjoyed.
JC, be assured that you are not forgotten!!! Down the road, my friend. Rest in peace.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Smith
King’s Mountain 1999 or 2000. JC is pictured on the left with Ronnie on the right. The rogue Representative Apprentice Trainee group in the middle — R.A.T. ears and all — is (L-R) Clif Welch, Gene Exum, Stephen Smith, and Tony Stone. |
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