Chili Rick

Chili Rick, how do you start talking about your life? Or your name? In this case, I am going to start in the middle of my life, cause that's where my philosophy and character were formed. I am proud to be a Texan! I am proud to be from a long line of Texans (6 generations) More so, I am, proud to have two beautiful, creative. Intuitive, Texas girls who happen to be the most important things in my life! Tryin' to be a role model for my children is a responsibility that spins me for a loop!!! Lets talk about chili. In 1974, a friend of mine, Mark Sandel introduced me to the world of Chili cook off's. Mark grew up in a small oil town named Iraan, (pronouncd ira-ann) Texas. The World Champion chili Cook off in Terlingua was out in his "neck of the woods". He spent an entire year convincing me that we should pack up and go have some fun. About the middle of October, we decided that we would indeed, make a trip out West. Mark, another friend of ours named Keith Gary, and I loaded down his 1972 Pinto Station wagon and on October 30, 1975 we "lit out" for Terlingua on a "hope and a prayer". (Mainly cause that's all that we had at that time.) Little did I know that the fateful trip would change my life and those around me forever?

In those days, the Terlingua Chili Cook off was a ghost town. If you've never been down to those parts, then you should! Even though it is the desert, it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Don't forget to take a camera! It is 85 miles from the closest town of Alpine. That area happens to be one of the darkest places on Earth.. In fact the McDonald Observatory is located nearby. Observers get a better look at the stars, because they are not competing with city lights.. They're incredibly beautiful! The Observatory supposedly measures the distance from the Earth to the Moon on an every day basis. Needless to say, it is beautiful and the mysteries of the desert are everywhere. Take Marfa, the Marfa lights are seen on a regular basis. There's a standing reward to anyone who can prove what they are, or where they come from.

Having driven to Presidio, stopping for a short visit to Ojinaga, past Lajitas and the beer drinkin goat, we drove the last few miles down the river road to Terlingue (a piece of Heaven on Earth). We rolled into Terlingua on Friday after a 10 hour drive and pitched a tent next to a burnt-down old adobe house in order to block the wind. We rose early on Saturday to begin our first "taste" of Chili.. Just as I emerge from my tent, out of the "burned out" adobe hut comes an old man followed by a young man carrying a sign (no doubt stolen) which was a Texas landmark with an arrow pointing down to the old man he was following. Shortly thereafter, I met one of our real Texas Legends "Hondo" Crouch. He comes up the hill with the young man carrying the sign and nodes to us in an approving way. Little did I know that this man was going to end up being my role model!

I spent the entire day tasting chili and absorbing the event; it's people, sounds, and textures. The chili cook off in those days was very loose, however the "characters" were colorful! During that weekend, I met Hondo, Frank Tolbert, Allegani Jani Schofield (the first woman to win at Terlingua), and of course Frank's chimp. The list is two numerous to name, but all Texas heroes in their own right. We were impressed so much that we decided to form a chili team when we got back to Flower Mound, Texas. In the next few weeks after returning from Terlingua, we cooked several batches of chili.. Finally, we developed a recipe that was edible. I took a bowl down to KRLD and Alex Burton (who was a judge at Terlingua) critiqued our brew. Alex gave us a few suggestions and we were off and running.

Our first chili team was named Free Wheeling Chili. we started attending chili cook offs as often as we could afford. The word spread quickly because Chili Cook offs are known as "great parties", as the word spread our team grew! In a year, our team had grown to up to fifty people. The Team members were from the Denton, Grapevine, Flower Mound areas. We decided that we needed a new name that represented what we were and what we stood for. After much deliberation and a lot of beer, we came up with the name Hard Core Chili, because that is what we were... Hard Core! Hard Core Chili grew for many years and many people came and went as the team went through a lot of transformations. From 1975 until today, we have had someone representing the team in some form at Terlingua for the World Championship of Chili Cook offs.

Through the years, I've run into lots of people who I met at different Chili Cook offs. After a few beers, are poured into the cooks, (the first ingredient in any good chili) you started learning people by their first names. As time went on people would see me and shake my hand or give me a hug and give me a Grand salutation of "Hi Chili Rick". Thus as time went on people only knew me as Chili Rick and that's just how I wanted it!

Toby Fucik

I am what you would call the Black Knight of this Chili Rick Klan for I am the one that always has the means to make the madness! The wizard that has the potion to create the motion. I am full blown Hemi Engine in a Hummer chassis. My once upon a time story started in south Texas in Weslace a little town outside of Mc Allen. I was raised on Southern hospitality, Southern Rock and Southern Women (including momma). I learned that Austin would become my nest once adolescence turned to manhood. I had a quick stint in DFW, where I met my partner in crime Chili Rick & we created a lasting relationship of sharing & making memories together. Shortly there after I met my beautiful wife Becky, had two great children, Anna and John Park. I have settled down some, but when I'm on the front with Chili Rick we can talk chili with the best of them. The rest of the Chili Klan Brian, Bendy, Joel, Sally Don and Diane are all my tribesman, but Chili Rick is the King of the Bowl of Red!

These gatherings are a true display of the Texas hospitality. I am proud to be a part of Chili for Charity events that benefit various organizations and besides, it allows the Hard Core Chili to Spend quality time together!

I am a coonass that migrated to texas a few years back after meeting silly rick. After a year or two I convienced rick to start the old chili team that he had created back in the 70's. I happened into the texas music seen thanks to Scott Mensig aka (Granpa) . I hadn't seen such kind people and good roots music in along long time. So the journey began chasing music and creating a party were ever we go. We have hosted a few music festivals and have our annual Hard Core Chili Cook Off and Halloween party out at Straw Dog Cycles.
I you haven't ran into us you will eventually!! Hang On Because The Train Rolls On!!!!! They call me Butch!

Diane Boyd

Chili Rick and I met about 1975. This was before he had the surname "Chili". We shared ideals about what life, great times and good people. Our circles of families and friends slowly merged. We became more than buddy, more than brothers, we dubbed name for each other – Brud. I got in at the Hard Core level with chili; V.1, Texas Red – NO BEANS! At the time there was a dozen or so members, between the guys and their ladies. The Hard Core Team would make 5 or 6 events a years around Texas. The season opener was first weekend in April, the Prairie Dog Chili Cook Off in Grande Prairie at Traders Village. Each event we plotted a strategy to win. We entered to win, but it really didn’t matter, we cooked to eat! We went to cook offs to enjoy ourselves with an ever-expanding group of friends, we brought lots of people into this thing we lovingly called "chili".

Road trips to events in San Marcus, Plano, Grande Prairie, Cowtown, Grapevine, Denton, etc., created a brotherhood of teammates. The year’s events culminated in Terlinqua, the ultimate test to see just how Hard Core you were. Hard Core Chiliheads from all over the state would meet up in Terlinqua at the Villa de la Mina. Each year there were new family members and friends we called virgins. It seemed there was a never-ending supply of virgins to sacrifice to the chili idol – Chiligula, and sacrifice we did! When all Hard Core members were present, it was like a village, in an encampment of villages.

While in Terlinque we would "road trip" around the cook off campgrounds amongst the rocks, yucca and cactus to meet, and visit with other chiliheads from around the world. There were always folks we had met at other cook offs, or past years at Terlinqua. It was an ever-expanding brotherhood. Since the 70’s we have had a representative of the Original Hard Core Team at Terlinqua every year. As our crew became smaller, we threw in with other camps for the brotherhood. Team Hard Core has been there in spirit! If you took all the years that a Hard Core member has been at Terlinqua and added them up, it would span multiple life times.

Resurrection
I guess I have to take the blame for planting the Hard Core seed in this decade. With the help of someone that was probably our last and most certainly our youngest original team member, my youngest brother Jon. We raised the original Hard Core flag. It had been buried for fourteen years in a garage. Jon and I had tried a trial run at a back yard cook off only to be bested by a recipe that of all things had potatoes in it. Not succumbing to pressure Team Hard Core cooks nothing but true Texas Red. The first run was Larry Joes’ event in Meridian. We pulled our usual 11th place, but had a blast just the same! It seems that "chili" has become fashionable again in family and corporate worlds.

Long Live Chili
With the re-emergence of Hard Core Chili, we’ve gained many new bothers and sisters. We have dug up a few of the old ones from under the blankets of age, careers. We have been raising families, had responsibilities, dealing with things that crowd all of our lives. But what chili is about, is what Team Hard Core is about, brotherhood, and being a part of some mean Texas Red.

Bendy Mullis

Joel King

Sally Moore

Less than a year ago, I met this character by the name of Chili Rick, seems we had been dancing cosmic circles around each other for years. It was the 6 degrees of separation thing, I suppose. Little did we know that our meeting would change both of our lives in such a swift and consuming manner! We had the Texas Music thread which tied us together, initially, but more importantly we had the same philosophy on life and the people we love and care about. Rick had energy around him that was intoxicating and many friends that have consequently become dear to me as well. Rick and I decided several months ago to enter a partnership called Authentic Texas Events. I guess the name says it all!

I am one of the newest inductees to the Hard Core Chili Team. Luckily, as of the Chili for Charity event, I am happy to say, that someone else as taken my place as the newest. I realized early on that the newest member has to go thru a series of tests, challenges and down right humbling experiences as an initiation. Although painful at the time, this process is not in the long run, considered a bad thing. It is what I refer to as a growing process. Why do we put ourselves thru this torture you ask? Because, Rick could sell ocean view property in Kansas and besides that it is fun! I can honestly say, I am a stronger; more well adjusted person with a higher threshold to the party antics that surround this incredibly versatile group of individuals. As far as the chili, I like it much hotter than I did before!

Donald Williams

My roots are all in Texas. I was born and raised in the Corpus area. I moved to Austin before I was out of diapers and haven't left the area since. Been all over the mainland working and traveling, partying, & playing. The last couple a words in that sentence warrants a paragraph dedicated to that... Partying & Playing, Chili Rick and myself, (they call me Longhorn Don) crossed paths on a journey 3 years ago. A mutual friend, Toby, introduced us. The details of that first meeting seem to escape me but... what was memorable is Chili Rick. He was a quality person and had a quantity of quality people surrounding him. The atmosphere and/or the events of which this bunch of individuals promote, is one of well, how would you say... a gratifying experience for all involved.

Some of the best music in the world has been written or played by a campfire during Hard Core Chili parties or events. I for one am blessed, with a status that only a few will ever get to experience... or survive. One thing you can bet your boots on partner is if the Hard Core Chili Team is cooking, drinking, dancing, & partying and playing, well Boy Howdy! That's the times that keep us all looking forward in life. This is Longhorn Don signing off. Hope to meet you all in next little while.