|
 |
History of ICS
The Past, The Present, The Future of ICS
In looking back at a history in the making, there
are so many people to thank that it would be impossible to name everyone...
A special thanks to all our sponsors who have made it possible for the
International Chili Society to exist. Hunt Wesson, Inc. and McIlhenney
Company (the makers of Tabasco) have been sponsors for over twenty years
and we are indebted to their loyalty and continuing sponsorship.
Our additional thanks go the the newest sponsors who came "on-board" for
the Las Vegas 32nd World's Championship Chili Cookoff: Las Vegas Visitors
and Convention Authority, Fremont Street Experience, Mission Industries,
EAT'M (Emerging Artists & Talent in Music), A-1 Audio and Lighting, Potlatch
Industries, and Shelby American.
One person, Carroll Shelby, must be named for his vision, charitable conscience,
and most important his love of having a good time. That’s why the first
World’s Championship was held in Terlingua, Texas. Thanks Shel. Who would
have thought that all that heartburn would be so much fun!
1967-1976 1977-1986
1987-1996 1997-Present
back to top
ICS History: 1967 -1976
1967 Some of the pioneers who started or
attended the first World's Championship were: Carroll Shelby, Tom Tierney,
H. Allen Smith, Wick Fowler, Dave Witts, Bill Neale, Frank X. Tolbert,
Father Duffy, Ormly Gumfudgin, and Bill Doner to name a few. It was a
shoot-out between Wick Fowler and H. Allen Smith. There were three judges;
Hallie Stilwell, Floyd Schneider and Dave Witts. Hallie voted for H.
Allen, Floyd voted for Wick. Dave Witts, the self- proclaimed mayor of
Terlingua and third judge, spat out both samples and declared his taste
buds were ruined! He called it a draw and declared a moratorium for one
year.
1968
They had so much fun at the first one,
it was decided to have another! (Besides, Shelby and Witts hadn't sold
those rocks they called the Terlingua ranch) H. Allen was ill due to what
he called an allergy flare-up (some said he'd eaten some of his own chili).
Woodruff "Wino Woody" DeSilva, former manager of Los Angeles International
Airport, took his place and fired up his pot against Wick Fowler in the
second World's Championship. Scott Carpenter (astronaut) served as head
judge. Someone had stuffed the ballot box for H. Allen and Carpenter called
for a re-vote. The ballots were cast, and before the box was opened, a masked
bandit brandishing a rifle, grabbed the ballot box and threw it down a mine
shaft. Dave Witts (still the mayor of Terlingua) declared nolo contendere
until the following year.
1969
History will show that this was a
very important year for the World's Championship Chili Cookoffs. C.V.
Wood, Jr., the man who built Disneyland for Walt Disney, brought the
London Bridge to Lake Havasu, an ex-Texan from Amarillo, then living in
Beverly Hills, threw his pot in the competition. Wick Fowler, representing
Texas, and Joe DeFrates, the Illinois champion, were soundly defeated by
the man who would call himself the "UndeFeeted UndeniaBull World's
Champion". C.V. Wood, Jr. known as "Woody" captured the World's
Championship with the flair of Cecil B. DeMille. Woody started what is now
known at all chili cookoffs, as "showmanship". He had a large rooting
section, t-shirts with his name on them, a monstrous spice chest, a couple
of Hollywood starlets as assistants and an electronic chili gauge. This
device had knobs for altitude, temperature and humidity. When the two
probes were placed in Woody's chili it registered "EXCELLENT," setting off
a siren. We had our first winner! But more important, a team that would
play an important role in the future of Chili Cookoffs...... Carroll
Shelby and C.V. Wood, Jr.
1970
A statement of purpose, articles and by-laws
was distributed for the new "INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY" (ICS) which
sanctioned the 1970 cookoff in the absence of any official word from the
Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI).
Up to this point the competitors at
the World's Championship were "Men Only!" The "Chiligettes" were advocating
women's rights to compete. Mumbles and grumbles were heard from the
organizers such as ...."Shoot, they'll screw this up, too"...."Why don't
they just stay home where they belong"..."Ya'll never see my wife here"..."We
ain't got any rights no more". It was bound to happen and it did--as Janice
Constantine of Midland, Texas, set up her cooking area with her own silver
service and candelabra accompanied by a male violinist in a
tuxedo.
Wick Fowler was declared "World's
Champion" with Chief Fulton Battice second and the Illinois Champion, Joe
DeFrates, third.
1971
ICS Historian Ormly
Gumfudgin fired up his pot in honor of the great state of California with
his assistant, astronaut Scott Carpenter. Joe DeFrates, Wick Fowler, C.V.
Wood, Jr., Shelby and a few of the other self- proclaimed chili experts
commented..."Have you tasted Ormly's Chinese Stew?"... Father Duffy
started the rumor Orm had pot in his pot and tasters came by the dozens
and ate it all before the judging. Some of the contestants were George
Wright (New York); Joe DeFrates (Illinois): Joyce Newlin (Texas); Wick
Fowler (Texas) and C.V. Wood, Jr. (Beverly Hills by way of Texas). Actress
Ruta Lee announced that "WOODY" had won his second World Title.
1972
This was the Sixth Annual and now
the World's Championship had become a tradition. Woody announced that he
was retiring as the "UndeFeeted UndeniaBull World's Champion." Frank
Tolbert announced the reissue of his updated book "A Bowl Of Red." Candy
Barr of Midland, Texas showed up promoting her book of poetry, "Gentle
Mind Confused." It was hard for Shelby to keep his mind on the book but he
bought two of them anyway--just so he could have Candy autograph them.
Shelby also announced that his "Original Texas Brand Chili Mix" was on the
market.
We lost a true pioneer in the
world of chili as WICK FOWLER had passed on. The 1972 World's Championship
was dedicated in his honor. The winners were: Howard Winsor, of Colorado
crowned as World's Champion; Second: Dub Rhodes, Ohio; Third: Dick
Slocumb, Texas.
1973
Dr. Roy Nakayama,
Dean of Horticulture from New Mexico State University at Las Cruces,
verified that early chili peppers had their effect on all subsequent life
forms. Joe DeFrates, the Illinois Champ won his first World's Championship
after five years of competing. Second place went to Dub Rhodes of Abilene,
Texas and third to Aubrey Cox of Wichita Falls,
Texas.
1974
The first legitimate
California State Championship was held on Thursday night before the
Memorial weekend in 1974. It was a success and would have a definite
impact on the International Chili Society. A team headed by Bill Ray,
owner of the BBC; Jon Clark, BBC VP; Jim West, Entertainment Director and
Program Director of the State Cookoff; along with Tom Deemer, Bill Davis,
Dick Rogers, Donnie Ward, Cal Schmidt, Father Duffy, and California State
Champion Al Dunlap were headed for Marfa, Texas and then on to Terlingua.
This was to be the last year the World's
Championship was held in Terlingua. Allegani Jani Schofield, with her Hot
Pants Chili, became the first female World's Champion. Carroll Shelby,
C.V. Wood, Jr. and Frank Tolbert were the key individuals in organizing
the International Chili Society World's Championship Chili Cookoff. Frank
resigned from the Board after the cookoff and suggested that Shelby and
Wood hold it in California.
1975
Just
90 miles from Los Angeles in the town of Rosamond, Tropico Goldmine was
chosen as the site for the World's Championship Chili Cookoff. Planning
began on the Ninth Annual World's Championship under the direction of C.V.
Wood, Jr. and Carroll Shelby. It was decided that the Cookoff would
benefit Children's Hospital of Los
Angeles.
This was a star-studded Cookoff
with celebrities such as Ernie Borgnine, Robert Mitchum, William Conrad,
Peter Marshall, Dale Robertson, John Derek, Vicky Lawrence, Joey Bishop,
and Chill Wills who would become the official ICS and World's Championship
MC until his death in 1978. Joe DeFrates joined C.V. Wood, Jr. as the only
two- time World's Champion. Second place went to Myles "Pig Pen" Grossman
of Nevada and Third to the Girl Scout Troop of Odessa, Texas. Woodruff
"Wino Woody" DeSilva joined H. Allen Smith and Wick Fowler in chili heaven
just before the Ninth Annual.
1976
It was decided by Woody and Shelby that the
International Chili Society and World's Championship needed full-time
management. Jim West was hired as Executive Director and offices were
established at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, California. More
celebrities were added to the World's Championship. Those in attendance
were: Joey Bishop, Michael Dante, Jane Withers, John Casavettes, Harvey
Korman, Peter Brown, Ross Martin, Peter Hurkos and Chill Wills. Entertainment
and celebrities were becoming a trademark of the World's Championship with
the popular Miss Chili Pepper, Shoot N' Hollar, Mr Hot Sauce, and beer drinking
contests. We lost H. Allen Smith, Chef Mike Roy and Hondo Crouch to the big
cookoff in the sky. Rudy Valdez, a full-blooded Ute Indian from Palmdale,
California, representing the Indian Nations, won the World's Championship.
This was the first year that, besides a trophy, prizes were awarded to the
winner. Rudy won a year's lease on a new Datsun Pickup, a pair of Larry Mahan
cowboy boots and a Rival crockpot. Second place went to our first foreign
winner, Jack Barber, representing England. Third place was Donna Williams
of Arizona and fourth went to Myrt Davis of Rosamond, representing Tropico
Goldmine.
back to top
ICS History: 1977-1986
1977
Over
20,000 attended the 11th Annual World's Championship Cookoff at Tropico
Goldmine. Jay Pennington, the Nevada Champion, won top honors with second
place going to George Burgos of Arizona , third place to Don Goff of
Illinois and fourth to Hal Beehan, winner of the Lower Colorado Regional.
Hollywood celebrities were becoming a big a part of the World's
Championship. Chiliheads from around the world rubbed elbows with Jack
Carter, Alan Hale, Richard Anderson, John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Peter
Marshall, Dick Haynes, Claude Akins, Sam Yorty (Mayor of L.A.), Tommy
Lasorda, Chill Wills, Art Fleming, Andy Granatelli, LaVar Burton, Ernie
Borgnine, Joanne Dru, Ralph Story, Kelly Lange, William Conrad, Carroll
Shelby, Bobby Unser, Mel Pell and Evelle Younger. Chief umpire and
scorekeeper was Emmett Ashford, the great baseball umpire.
1978
This was an instrumental year for
the Society and chili cooks world wide. Cash prize awards for chili
winners was established with $15,000 going to Laverne "Nevada Annie"
Harris, the 1978 World's Champion. Annie was the Nevada Champion, making
it two in a row for the Nevada State Championship Chili Cookoff held every
year at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada. Second place and a check for
$5,000 went to Erv Welk (yes, related to Lawrence) from North Dakota;
third and $2,500 to Dennis Wiseman of West Virginia. In February of 1978
the International Chili Society offered formal memberships that included a
newsletter with news of cookoff winners and upcoming cookoffs. The
American Spice Trade Association created a special award for the cook
using the most spices in their recipe. It was won by Max Vallejo,
representing Oregon. The accounting firm of Harris, Kerr & Foster
acted as chief scorekeeper verifying all votes and winners. In December we
lost Chill Wills, one of our most lovable characters in Chilidom.
1979
A capacity crowd converged on
Tropico as hot air balloons went up and the Condor Squadron bombed the
outhouse, while sky divers drifted down to the aroma of championship
chili. KLAC celebrity disc jockey Dick Haynes helped Jim House and Tommy
Farrell on stage. Other celebrities such as Jim and Chris Mitchum, Jack
Kelly and Billy Barty entertained the crowd. Joe and Shirley Stewart, the
Sierra Nevada Regional winners, took home the first-place trophy and a
check for $15,000 as the 1979 World's Champions. Second and a check for
$7,500 went to Rudy Valdez, the 1976 World's Champion. Bill Casper of
Missouri was third and $2,500 richer, edging out Jim McCullick, the
California State Champion, who received $1,000 for fourth place, "Chili"
Bill Swanson, of Wisconsin, took home fifth and a check for $500.
1980
Paramount Movie Ranch replaced
Tropico Goldmine as the site for the 14th Annual World's Championship
Chili Cookoff. Peter Marshall and Joe Landis filmed a special on the
World's Championship and there were more "stars" at Paramount than there
were in the sky. Robert Mitchum, Ernest Borgnine, Joanne Dru, Peter
Marshall, Artie Johnson, Dennis James, Jack Kelly, Tom Poston, Rory
Calhoun, Mike Connors, Slim Pickens, Earl Holliman, George Gobel, Billy
Barty, and Chuck Conners were all in the special. Bill Pfeiffer, the
Washington D.C. winner, won $20,000 with his "Capital Punishment" chili.
John Hundley was second, Randy Davis third, Ray Walker fourth, and LeRoy
Johnson was fifth.
1981
Famous Hollywood
Park race track was the site for the 15th Annual World's Championship on
November 1, 1981. Over 60 contestants representing Regions, States and
Foreign Countries such as England, Scandinavia, Canada, Mexico and
Australia fired up their pots for the $20,000 check for the World's best
chili cook. Fred Drexel, the California State champion, with his
"Butterfield Stageline" chili went to the winners' circle as World's best
chili cook and a check for $20,000. Susan Airhart from Houston, Texas was
second, New Mexico's Rick Owens was third, Harry Coleman fourth and 1979
World's Champions, Joe & Shirley Stewart, took fifth place honors.
Robert Petersen and Tom Deemer were elected to the ICS Board of
Governors.
1982
From Hollywood Park, we
moved to Universal Studios in beautiful Burbank, California. People come
from around the world to tour Universal Studios in hopes to see famous
celebrities. The World's Championship Chili Cookoff was the place to be to
see the "stars." Ernie Borgnine, Wilt Chamberlain, John "Bozer" Bowman,
William Conrad, Joanne Dru, Peter Marshall, Helen O'Connell, Rory Calhoun,
Dan Haggerty, Jim Mitchum, Dennis James, Arte Johnson, Alex Trebeck,
Leslie Uggams, Jackie Olden and Tom Poston were our celebrities in
attendance. Bill Pfeiffer, the 1980 World's Champion, made chili history
by joining C.V. Wood, Jr. and Joe DeFrates as another two-time World's
Champion. Bill took home a check in the amount of $25,000, raising his
total winnings from the World's Championships to
$40,000.
1983
There's no place like home
so we went back to "Tropico Goldmine." Seventy-four contestants from
around the world, including Australia, England, Canada, and Guam, fired-up
their Coleman stoves for a piece of the $35,000 in total prize money and
awards. It was great to be back at Tropico and the people were glad to
have us back; for over 20,000 spectators crowded into the cooking area to
get a glimpse of one of the celebrities and a taste of the best chili in
the world. Harold Timber, the Glacial Lakes Regional Champion, placed his
name in the record book and took home the $25,000 first-place check as the
1983 World's Champion. Fred Drexel, the 1980 champion was second; Fred
Wieland, the Shriners Regional Champ, took third place, fourth went to the
Sierra Nevada Champ Darrel Beller and fifth was Santos Menchaca, the
Nevada State Champion.
1984
A bill was
introduced in the Texas legislature to designate chili as the official
state dish. It succeeded. Chili may have started in Texas but it's
America's food and on February 2, 1984, Manuel J. Lujan, Jr., Congressman
(R-NM) introduced a bill "House Joint Resolution 465." It was a Joint
Resolution to provide for the designation of Chili as the Official Food of
the United States of America. Dusty Hudspeth, the Texas State Champion
from Irving, Texas, bought her family a new house with the $25,000 prize
money she won as the 1984 World Champion. Allison Taylor, the Sierra
Nevada Regional Champion, was second; Steve Wolf, the Nevada State champ,
was third; Irene Menchaca, California State Champion, fourth; and Carol
Hancock, Tropico/Antelope Valley Regional Champ, took fifth place. Four
women were in the top five and you guys were saying "women can't cook
chili". Celebrities included Ernie Borgnine who has become a "regular" and
a favorite of the fans at the World's Championships. Ernie was joined by
celebrity judges Wilt Chamberlin, David Doyle, Iron Eyes Cody, Craig T.
Nelson, Richard Herd, Bill Conrad, Peter Marshall, Joanne Dru, and Skip
Young.
1985
Sixty-three judges tasted for
one hour and fifteen minutes before declaring Carol Hancock, the High
Sierra Regional Champ as World Champion. Ernie Borgnine presented Carol,
her husband Dave and son Greg, a check for $25,000. They named their chili
"Shotgun Willie Chili" after singer Willie Nelson who is a friend of the
Hancock's. They became the second High Sierra Champ to win the World's
Championship, joining Joe and Shirley Stewart, the 1979 champions. Fred
Wieland, the Baja Champion was second; Skip Cooley, Oregon Champion,
third; Virginia Champion Jeff Spinks was fourth and Doug Wilkey, Idaho
State Champion, was fifth. The celebrity list included one of baseball's
all time personalities, Billy Martin. The crowd loved Billy and other
celeb's like Ernie Borgnine, William Conrad, Hugh O'Brian, Jack Kelly,
Joanne Dru, Richard Herd, Chris Mitchum, Andy Granatelli, and Iron Eyes
Cody.
1986
A tradition was started at the 20th Annual
World's Championship as ICS Governors Tom Deemer and Bill Ray led the
crowd in "God Bless America" to officially start the cookoff. Sherre Mesker
has continued that tradition at all World's Championships as well as many
local cookoffs. Jim Beaty, the Oregon champion, took home the $25,000 check
and title of World's Champion by defeating 78 other State and Regional
champions from around the world. The ICS has become truly International with
champions from Tahiti, Australia, Canada, England, Cayman Islands, Mexico and
the Gulf of Sidra. Sergei Kowalchik won on board the aircraft carrier Coral
Reef, while they were in the Gulf, notifying Colonel Khadafy his recipe needed
a little napalm. Jerry Simmons, the Iowa champion (from St. Louis) took runner-up
honors with the Gulf of Sidra champion, Sergei Kowalchik, third; Erskine Bufano,
the Utah champ, was fourth and Larry Koch, the Green Country Regional Champion,
winning fifth in a taste-off over the 1985 World Champion Carol Hancock. The "stars"
were out at Tropico Goldmine and the 20,000 chiliheads attending enjoyed seeing
the star of the hit day-time drama of "The Young and the Restless" Jeanne Cooper;
"L.A. Law's," Corbin Bernsen, Martha Smith, Terry Lester, Kevin Dobson, Linda Gray,
Barry Corbin, Yankee great Billy Martin, Chris Mitchum, Hugh O'Brian, Skip Young,
Mitch Brown, Michael Gogin and our number one celebrity chilihead Ernie Borgnine.
back to top
ICS History: 1987-1996
1987
George
Horn, of the national accounting firm Pannell, Kerr, Forster, certified
the votes of the judges and announced that Margo Knudson, the High Sierra
Champion, had won the 21st Annual World's Championship Chili Cookoff.
Margo is the fifth woman to win the World's Championship and the third
High Sierra champion to capture the title of World's Champion Chili Cook.
She also took home a check for $25,000. Richard Rutherford, the Colorado
State Champion was second; third went to Bob Grayson, the Oregon Champ;
Jean Simmons, the Tennessee Champion, was fourth and the Nevada State
champ, Leon Thompson, was fifth. Carroll Shelby had termed the World's
Championship Chili Cookoff as an "Adult Woodstock" and this year's cookoff
certainly verified the tag. Al "Red Dawg" Weber and his "Custer's Last
Band" had the crowd dancin' all day in between the Miss Chili Pepper, Mr
Hot Sauce, Shoot n' Hollar and beer drinking
contests.
Lt. Commander Don Lewis,
US Navy, from Point Mugu, was introduced at 11:55 a.m. He asked the crowd
to look skyward as two F-18 jets piloted by Cmdr. Rick Fessenden and Lt.
Cmdr. Rick Moore, passed over the cookoff in close formation. They made a
couple of other passes and then kicked in the afterburners as Sherre
Mesker sang "God Bless America." The Edwards Air Force Base Color Guard
presented arms and the 21st World's Championship Chili Cookoff was
officially started. There wasn't a dry eye at the Goldmine as the 81
contestants fired up their pots.
The
Condor Squadron kept another tradition alive by bombing the "Officer's
Club" (outhouse) that was constructed on top of the mountain behind the
Goldmine. They did a great air show in their vintage
planes.
A stellar list of celeb's were on
hand to judge and entertain; such as Jeanne Cooper, Corbin Bernsen, Barry
Corbin, Ernie Borgnine, Fred Willard, Trica Cast, Matthew Lawrence, Hugh
O'Brien, Jackie Olden, Skip Young, Joe Cannon, Jess Walton, Barry Jenner,
Kate Linder, Paul Wallach, Bill Conrad, Joanne Dru, and Collin
Bernsen.
1988
Actor
Lee Horsley presented a check for $25,000 to Linda & Kenton Stafford,
the Lower Colorado Regional Champions. The accounting firm of Pannell,
Kerr and Forster said it was one of the closest World's Championships ever
judged. George Swick, the Baja Regional Champ, was second and Jerry
Simmons, the Mile High Regional Champ, was third. Tied for fourth and
fifth was Jim Beaty the 1986 World's Champion and Ellen Lilja, the Idaho
State Champion. Jim Beaty won the taste-off. ICS sponsor Pepto Bismol
created the "Titanic Bowl of Red" with the Tulsa JC's. They drove the
1,000 gallon chili pot from Tulsa and sold chili for charity at the
World's Championship. The Honorable chilihead, Calvin Schmidt, Municipal
Court Judge, and his assistant, ICS's own Father Duffy (non-commissioned),
but an honorable man of question,(or vice versa) performed the first
marriage ever held at the World's Championship. Hope and Monty Spuregon
exchanged vows on the Main Stage in front of 20,000 people and national
television. We lost two great chiliheads when Bill Ruff and Dr. Roy
Nakayama joined Wick Fowler, H. Allen, Wino Woody and others in that great
cookoff in the sky.
1989
The space
shuttle was scheduled to land at Edwards Air Force base on Monday
following the World's Championship. Some of the 20,000 spectators wondered
if the astronauts could see the smoke from the 82 contestants at Tropico
Goldmine, about 20 miles from Edwards where they were scheduled to land.
"Tarantula Jack" (Phil Walter) won the World's Championship and the
$25,000 first-place check. The Kentucky Champion, John Knight was second;
third was Norm Gaul; 4th went to Paul Ash, the Baja Champion and Doug
Wilkey, the Arizona Champ was 5th.
Johnny Lee was a special guest performer
and headlining the celebrity list was Jeanne Cooper, Helen Bodner, Laura
Bryan Birn, Rory Calhoun, Barry Corbin, Don Dolan, Steve Easton, Dana
House, John Laughlin, Kate Linder, Cary and Chris Mitchum, Hugh O'Brian,
Jerry Prell, Marguerite Ray, Quinn Rediker, Joanne Dru, and Cory Young.
Dawn dishwashing soap, the official
grease cutter of the International Chili Society, staged the World's
Championship Dishwashing Contest. There was a $15,000 Dream Kitchen as
first prize and the competition was fierce. The final two contestants were
Sheila Sowell of Abilene, Texas and Dwayne Page of Colorado Springs.
Dwayne had the lead going into the last few dishes but slipped and Sheila
won by a matter of
seconds.
1990
Carroll
Shelby wasn't feeling too good but he stayed until David Valega was
announced as the new World's Champion. The Arizona State Champs, Rocky
& Mary Renfrow, were second; Cathy Wilkey, the North West Regional
Champ, was third; Steve Porter, the Wyoming Champ, fourth; and Tom
Williams, the Mile High Regional Champ, was fifth. Chili competition has
now become as competitive as the Olympics (some say more). Dick Sykes and
the Condor Squadron bombed the "Officers Club." Ernie and Tova Borgnine
headed this years list of celeb's with Don Dolin, Brad Lockerman, Jim
Storm, Jeff Tractra, Michael Fox, Barry Corbin, Stan Campbell, Bobbi
Eakes, Lori Calhoun, Rory Calhoun, Mary Cadarette and Joanne Dru. Shelby
became a candidate for a heart transplant which he got later in the year.
We thank the miracles of medicine and the great doctors that we have in
the world today.
1991
Shelby drove
the pace car, Chrysler's Viper, at the Indy 500 and he looked so good we
were wondering if he was going to pull off the track or stay in the race.
No one knew at the time but this would be the last year that the World's
Championship Chili Cookoff would be held at Tropico Goldmine. Tropico
Goldmine had become as famous as Terlingua to chili fans around the world.
Randy Robinson the Kentucky State Champion took first place honors the
title of World's Champion and a check for $25,000 back to his home town of
Columbus, Ohio. Al Rock, Vintage Regional Champion was second, third Dave
Lorenz, Mexico National Champion; fourth Dione Cooley, Western Regional
Champion and fifth place went to Jim Beaty, former World's Champion and
the Western Regional Champ. We lost Board of Governor W.D. Ray to cancer
as he joined other chiliheads in the great cookoff in the
sky.
1992
Chili heads around the
world mourned the passing of two pioneer's of the International Chili
Society Co-Founder C.V. Wood, Jr. and Shirley Bufano. Rawhide in
Scottsdale, Arizona hosted the World's Championship and one of America's
great Statesman Senator Barry Goldwater was chief judge. Chris Mitchum
headed a list of celebrities in team roping that included six time world's
champion all-around cowboy Larry Mahan. Carson City physician Dr. Ed
Pierczynski the Canadian Champion was crowned World's Champion with second
place going to Betty Phillips the Kansas State Champion. Doug Wilkey the
Pacific West Regional Champion was third, fourth was defending World's
Champion, Randy Robinson.
Joining all of
us in the fun at Rawhide were Robert Mitchum, Ernie Borgnine, Jeanne
Cooper and Orville & Gary Redenbacher (of popcorn
fame).
Chili Cookoffs have become major
fund raisers around the world as the International Chill Society announced
that an estimated fifty million dollars had been raised from sanctioned
Cookoffs.
1993
Reno, Nevada the "biggest
little city in the world" called and we went. The World's Championship
Chili Cookoff became for the first time a two day festival with food
vendor, arts & crafts and micro brewery's. McBride & The Ride a
hot country western band was booked and chili heads lined Virginia Street
in downtown Reno, Nevada. Cathy Wilkey, the Washington State Champion
placed her name in history and was $25,000 richer as the 1993 World's
Champion. Don Hammes the North Dakota State Champion was second, third
place was Laurin Lentz the North Coast Regional Champion, fourth place
went to the Kentucky State Champion Ann Hoover. The crowd, and the judges
deemed it "the year of the woman. "It was estimated that over 50,000
people attended the World's Championship. The ICS staged a trip across
America in a stage coach with the Red Cross as a fund raiser and to make
people aware of the bill to make chili America official food. Carroll
Shelby's chili pot was tied on top and we left from the steps of the
Capital building in Washington D.C. Ormly Gumfudgin rode shot gun with Jim
Lotito at the wheel. They arrived in Reno before the start of the World's
Championship.
1994
Back in the
streets of Reno the World's Championship now ran a mile or so down
Virginia Street and we had to expand down 2nd street to have enough room.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils were the featured performers as thousand of
chili fans left the slot machines to enjoy the arts & crafts, chili,
entertainment and good friends. Good Morning America opened their show
from the Main Stage and the party was on. The Alberta Champions, Bill
& Karen Ray, 28th World's Champions and winners of $25,000 and the
traditional bronze chili pot. Second place was Jerry Simmons the Central
States Regional Champion, third was Mary Pierczynski the Canadian Champion
and wife of Dr. Ed, past World's Champion. Paul Ash, the Antelope
Valley/High Desert Regional Champion was fourth. and Dr. Ed, Mary's
husband and past World's Champion came in fifth. Jeanne Cooper was a hit
with the crowd as she has been at all the World's Championships. We lost
Bill Conrad, a great friend and judge to the big cookoff in the
sky.
1995
The World's Championship
Chili Cookoff has become a three day festival with over 100 arts &
crafts, food vendors, and micro brewery's. Buckwheat Zydeco was the
featured performer with his Creole, Zydeco, reggae, rock n' roll blend of
music. Barron Hilton was chief judge as the largest number of contestants
competed in the history of the ICS. The Semi Finals had been added for
winners of Districts Cookoffs around the country and over 200 contestants
fired up their stoves in quest of the $25,000 first prize money and title
of World's Champion. One hundred and twenty finalists lit their stoves as
Lena Shelby in Swedish and Margie Petersen in English announced "Ladies
& Gentlemen, light your stoves." Norm & Bobbi Gaul, winners from
the Semi Finals totaled the most votes and won the $25,000 and put their
name in chili history as the 29th World's Champions. Bob Dyer the Western
Champion, was second, Red Brecke from the Semi-Finals was third, Marilee
Barrett the Montana Champion was fourth and the Alberta Champion Janis
Davidson was fifth. Andy Dishong a pioneer chilihead lost his battle with
cancer.
1996
Was this a year, or
not......The Reno Hilton provided a backdrop to end all backdrops. The
weather was a generous 88 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, with crowds
from as far as the Bay Area & Sacramento, not to mention the "locals"
who came to see what a "chili cookoff" was all
about.
We had the luxury of having Chef
Paul Prudhomme with us all weekend providing us with a great Gourmet
Cooking Demonstration Thursday evening, a great Gourmet dinner on Friday,
and judging the "final" table on Sunday. Actor Cliff Robertson, Actress
& cable TV Hostess, Ruta Lee; world-renowned set designer Jerry
Wunderlich, Young & Restless's Jeannie Cooper were all on hand to help
us celebrate our 30th Anniversary.
Congratulations to Georgia Weller from Michigan, who went home $25,000 richer and the new World's Champion Chili Cook. Penny Hansell went home $1,000 richer for becoming the World's Championship Salsa Winner of 1996. Both gals will be back next year to defend their titles.
back to top
ICS History: 1997 - present
1997
North, South, East
& West.....cooks descended on Reno and took no prisoners at this
year's World's Championship Chili Cookoff. Steve Falkowski, from Hopewell
Junction, NY walked away with 1st place, the coveted bronze chili pot and
a check for $25,000. His "Gold Miner's Chili" will go down in history as
the best bowl of chili for
1997!
Following in Steve's footsteps were
2nd place Ed Cooley from CA, 3rd place Darol Wetzel from MT, Tom Hoover
from Ohio, and rounding out the top five, Kathy LeGear from
TX.
LeAnn Nienow from Gold River, CA
walked away with the top prize of $1,000 at the World's Championship Salsa
Contest. LeAnn beat out 139 salsa hopeful's with her "Stoney Road Salsa".
Jim Watson from Placerville, CA took 2nd place, Barry Steinberg from
Canoga Park, CA took 3rd, and the defending champion, Penny Hansell from
Tustin, CA took 4th place. It looks as if California cooks did better in
Salsa than Chili! Just kidding.
Joining
us this year were Carroll Shelby and his new wife, Cleo, Jeanne Cooper,
Caren (Bernsen) Wilson, Corbin Bernsen, Chef Alex Patout and Spicemeister,
Dave DeWitt.
Once again we enjoyed the hospitality and camaraderie from the folks at the Reno Hilton.
1998
The 32nd Annual World’s Championship Chili Cookoff was held in downtown
Las Vegas under the canopy of The Fremont Street Experience. A beautiful setting to say the least! There was a Shelby Club Competition of about
150 Shelby Cobras on display along with the Chili Competitions. Actor/Singer David Cassidy sang the National
Anthem flowed by the " official start " of the shotgun and
then 170 cooks were cooking up their goods!
Congratulations to Kathy LeGear from Dallas,TX who went home $25,000 richer and the new World's Champion Chili Cook and Bonnie Ford for becoming the World's Championship Salsa Winner of 1998.
1999
Back under the canopy of The Fremont Experience in Las Vegas, the three-day event kicked off Friday at 6am with Jim & Eileen Beaty cooking up a "Bowl of Red" for the TV crew (they took it back
to the studios after the press release!) and then the fun began! Nine events in three days! WHEW! But that is what everyone comes out for----THE FUN! On Sunday, Zach Taylor made some announcements, the National Anthem was sung and,
as tradition goes, the "shot heard ‘round the chili world" was fired by Doug Dishong with Jeep’s shotgun. Jeep Gereghty, another pioneer chilihead and official starter, lost his battle with cancer this year.
Maud Swick of Bakersfield, CA captured the overall win in 1999 with her Zanjero Red Chili, representing Sespe Creek Regional, CA. Joe Barrett of Lake Arrowhead, CA took the inaugural Chili Verdi competition while Pat McCulley was crowned 1999 World’s Salsa Champion. At the end of the day everyone was exhausted but satisfied with another "world" gone by!
2000 34th Annual World's Chili Championship Cookoff
back to top
|
|
|
