DECATUR, Ala. — , the visionary restaurateur who transformed a small family barbecue stand into one of the most celebrated and decorated BBQ destinations in the world, passed away peacefully on Friday. He was 84.
McLemore took over Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in 1972 — a restaurant his grandfather had founded in Decatur back in 1925. Under his leadership, what was already a beloved local fixture grew into a nationally recognized institution, earning accolades that few restaurants anywhere in the country can match.
His trophy case is the stuff of BBQ legend…