Chris Lilly

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama

When Amy McLemore, great-granddaughter of Alabama barbecue legend Big Bob Gibson, looked at fellow University of North Alabama student Chris Lilly, she saw a husband. Her father saw a solution to a long-standing business problem. "My father-in-law hired me because he wanted to open a second location," says Chris, who'd never before minded a pit. He has since clinched the art of superlative 'cue—"It's just dry rub, patience, and sauce on the side," he says—and become a legend on the competition circuit. Unlike many professional pitmasters, Chris doesn't sneer at the prospect of smoking for prizes: He's won more than 10 World BBQ Championship titles, including three Memphis in May Grand Championships. Becoming a celebrity hasn't lured him out of Decatur: "My passion is in the pits," he says. "You'll still find me there, taking a turn." bigbobgibson.com