Dave Franks has left us for the great beyond, but I still think of him often. His tales and his cooking need to be saved.

James David Franks told me he started cooking at age 5. His grandmother taught him to cook and would let him stand in a straight wooden chair and stir the pots on a wood burning stove. Although re-calculating her directions–a spoonful of this or that, a pinch of this or that–not to mention the “handful” since Dave’s hand is three times the size of his grandmother’s hand–has been quite a challenge; nonetheless, Dave has published two cookbooks, Foods of the Southland and Bar-B-Q Beans and Tater Salad. He was working on a third book, Sweets of the Southland. I do not know if the book got published before Dave died.

Looking back at Dave’s days running a service station in Memphis, the station was close to Graceland and Elvis was a customer. Dave recalls helping Elvis “escape” from the girls lined up at Graceland to see Elvis by letting Elvis lie in the back seat of his car. Dave covered him up with a fender cover and they drove out the gate. One time at Dave’s service station, Elvis wanted to pump gas. Of course, Dave agreed. After he filled up a woman’s car and came up to the window asking if there would be anything else the woman recognized Elvis and fainted!

In addition to Dave’s Donut Shop, while in Oak Ridge, Dave opened two restaurants, a wholesale food business, a pest control business, a publishing company, a wholesale produce business and his own record label. He has written and published two songs, “Dusty Road and Model As” and “Alabama, Alabama.”

When Alex Haley built and opened a retreat near the Museum of Appalachia, he hired Dave as his “country cook and farm manager.” Alex nicknamed Dave “Doctor Creative.” While working for Mr. Haley, Dave cooked for Oprah Winfrey, Louis Gossett, Jr., Maya Angelou, John Rice Irwin, Senator Lamar Alexander and others of note. I was privileged to get to return to the Alex Haley Farm and Retreat this past Friday evening for the East Tennessee Preservation Association's 2017 Preservation Awards. Betty Bullen, President of Preservation Union County accepted the award for the restoration of the Historic Oak Grove School. The Haley Farm and Retreat is now owned and operated by Children's Defense Fund where training and other events are held throughout the year.

Dave began barbecuing at age 14 in Whitehaven, Tennessee. He recalls building the pits of river rocks and red clay. He cut his own wood, built the fire over to the side and shoveled the embers under the meat. My how times have changed. He now uses wood chunks and charcoal. The pit is computer controlled and stainless steel. Dave is a professional competitor in the Kansas City Bar-B-Q Society and the Memphis BBQ Network. He is a certified judge for both organizations.

Dave served on the Board of Paulette Volunteer Fire Dept. and enjoyed his friends coming by to visit him at the Monday night jam sessions. Dave showcased his barbecuing skills at fundraisers in Union County and other venues.

Picture caption: James David Franks