Myron Mixon. Today we continue the countdown to the Most Influential Person in BBQ with the 5^th most influential person in BBQ. Coming in as the 5^th Most Influential Person in BBQ is pitmaster of Jack’s Old South, judge on BBQ Pitmasters and cookbook author, Myron Mixon.

Myron Mixon's mastery of the pit may only be equaled by his mastery of marketing himself. In recent years Mixon has become the face of barbecue and crossed over into the realm of celebrity chef. Mixon comes from a family with barbecue sauce running through its veins. In 1996 he entered his first competition to promote his family's BBQ Sauce and ended up winning Whole Hog. Mixon named his company Jack's Old South after his father who taught him how to barbecue. Over the years Mixon and his Jack's Old South team have won nearly 200 Grand Championships and more than 1,700 trophies. The crown jewel of Mixon's Championships are his three Memphis in May World Championships (2001, 2004 & 2007).  As a result of his success on the competition circuit Mixon has been referred to as the "Winningest Man in Barbecue".

Mixon's fame and influence began its climb with his appearance on the inaugural season of BBQ Pitmasters as the Simon Cowell like character of the cast and in subsequent seasons as one of the shows judges. Mixon is the only pitmaster to appear on every season of BBQ Pitmasters.  In recent years he has released two very successful cookbooks, Smokin with Myron Mixon and Everyday Barbecue and a line of smokers called Myron Mixon Smokers. Mixon also teaches one of the most popular and widely attending cooking schools in all of barbecue, the Jack's Old South Cooking School.

No matter where we travel on our barbecue journey's one of the first names brought up when talking to seasoned pitmasters, backyard BBQ warriors or folks just begging their love affair with barbecue, is Myron Mixon. His accomplishments are far and wide and his influence within and outside of competition BBQ is historic. It doesn't seem likely that his influence will end anytime soon as he continues to build upon his BBQ empire.