Chili Cookoff Thursday

Back when the first downtown chili cookoff began 16 years ago, four guys thought a lunch of "Texas Red" would be a great way to show a little appreciation to their valued oil field customers.

Eight companies signed up and cooked eight pots of chili down on a vacant lot off Commerce Street at Knowles.

The next year, they actually made a few dollars — emphasis on a few — and decided to donate the proceeds to the Kilgore Crisis Center, which serves victims of family violence, sexual abuse and other violent crimes in Gregg, Rusk and Harrison counties.

Next week, when three to four thousand folks flock downtown to sample more than two tons of chili, the proceeds are likely to exceed $30,000 and every cent will benefit the Crisis Center and the scores of women and children from Kilgore, Henderson, Marshall and other area towns who desperately need its services in the coming year.

The 16th Annual East Texas Oilman's Chili Cookoff, set next Thursday around the World's Richest Acre Park on Commerce Street, has already garnered RSVPs from 83 cooking teams, according to Jennifer Johnston, a Crisis Center sexual assault victim's advocate who doubles as a chili cookoff organizer each fall.

The gates will open "9:30- ish" and the sampling begins at 11.

Bob Davis — one of the four "originals" along with his dad Bob Sr., Leo Lowery and Troy Slinkard — said this week the cookoff began as a free lunch for his and others' oil field customers.

"Each company cooked about 25 pounds of chili and we set up in the lot across from my of- fice," said Davis, who operates Bob Davis Sales on South Commerce Street.

"We weren't really out to raise money, but the next year we made about 27 bucks and we thought, 'Hey, we made some money. What do we do with it?'" Davis laughed. "That's when we got involved with the Kilgore Crisis Center."

In 2007, the little-cookoffthat could netted a whopping $30,942, all of which was benefited the Crisis Center.

The chili cookoff teams come primarily from oil field production and service companies, and each rents a 12'x12' space along Commerce for $50 (if they want a bigger spot this year it will cost a little more). Each team cooks a minimum of 50 pounds of chili — and every bit is spooned out to the public for sampling and the chance to win the coveted People's Choice award. They also compete before a table of 30 or so judges for trophies and braggin' rights.

"It's really something everyone looks forward to," Davis said.

Each chili concoction is cooked from scratch, on site, on Thursday morning. Chilis are submitted to the judges at 10:30 a.m. and the public starts sampling about 30 minutes later.

Traffic on Commerce, between Main and Sabine, will be rerouted beginning Wednesday morning and only chili cooking teams will be allowed in the area to set up their booths.

Last week, the word at the Crisis Center was that several of the oil field companies had already held private chili competitions, with the winners scheduled to advance to the big chili cookoff in the street.

Davis said several of the company teams have come up with "inside deals" to raise additional money for the Crisis Center.

"Last year one company brought in a palm reader and she read palms to raise money," Davis explained. "Some companies hold raffles for gift cards and other prizes. We encourage companies to do that to raise extra money for the center."

He added the cookoff "has taken on a life of its own."

And so the Wednesday night cooks' welcome dinner has also taken on a life of its own. This year, the night-before event will be closed to the public. If you're not part of a company cook team or haven't gotten a personal invitation from one of the teams, you're not going to get into the gated area. Absolutely no wristbands — which will be sold for $5 at the gates Thursday morning — will be sold at the gate on Wednesday night.

Luckily, Thursday is an entirely different matter. At five bucks per person with the chance to sample all the chili you can eat in a couple of hours, it's a bargain lunch. The wristband also nets the buyer a chance to cast five votes for the People's Choice award. Three places — first, second and third — will be awarded this year, along with trophies for the top five judged chilis and three awards for showmanship.

Drinks are extra and sold exclusively by the crisis center, so come early and drink a lot. Also, bring some extra cash to purchase a commemorative Tshirt and cook's apron, available for $15 each.