Bill Eason grew up in the Farmville area of eastern North Carolina and started barbecuing at an early age. During Bill’s formative years it was traditional to cook a pig for just about every major family or community event or gathering. This tradition still prevails in certain areas of the state. Bill completed his post high school studies at Wingate University (then a junior college) and East Carolina University. While at ECU Bill was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Bill began competition cooking in 1990 and his The Little Red Pig Cooking Team has met with much success over the years. The Little Red Pig Cooking Team has won over 100 awards and counting in barbecue competitions throughout the country. Team LRP has cooked in 20 state championships and 3 world championships. And they bring home the bacon. Bill Eason (team leader) is one of the best whole hog cookers in the country.

Bill has appeared on numerous television shows promoting barbecue and barbecue events. He also has a video tape produced by MBF productions: Whole Hog Barbecue By: Bill Eason.

Bill Eason has spent most of his business career in the construction industry. However, the NC Business Journal quotes Bill as stating that his catering business revenue is rapidly approaching that of his construction company.

Visit www.kateclydescateredcreations.com. to learn more about Bill and Team LRP. Bill renders invaluable service and counsel to NCBS and we are grateful.

Steve Grady is the co-owner (with his wife Gerri) of Grady's BBQ in Dudley, N.C.  Grady's BBQ is one of the Historic BBQ Pits on The NCBS Historic BBQ Trail.  Steve is a legendary Eastern North Carolina Pit Master and has cooked over 12,000 whole hogs.  Steve was one of the Class of 2008 NCBS Wall of Fame inductees and has been showcased in a number of newspapers and magazines.  See the USA Today article on the News and Events link on this website.  Also see Grady's BBQ on the NCBS Historic BBQ Trail on the BBQ Trail link on this website.

Steve grew up on a farm and has raised pigs and been around pigs all of his life.  As a boy Steve learned to cook pigs the old fashioned way on pits with live coals.  Steve never departed from his up-bringing.  Twenty-three (23) years ago Steve left his job at the lumber yard and opened Grady's BBQ in Dudley so he and his wife could work together.  Since Grady's opened,  Steve has adveraged cooking about 10 whole hogs a week , fifty-one weeks a year.  Steve and Gerri also do catering in addition to the cooking at  their permanent location at the intersection of Arrington Bridge Road and Sleepy Creek Road outside of Dudley.

We are pleased to have Steve bring his vast cooking experience and sage wisdom to our board.  And in addition we can tap into Gerri's considerable skills in the kitchen and have the pleasure of  her million candle watt smile at our events.

 

Rick Hollowell has enjoyed over 30 years of experience in numerous positions throughout the telecommunications industry. During this time, he has been involved with the planning, construction and management of seven cable systems in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, and has held practically every position in the cable industry.

Since his initial involvement with the development of over 400 of the early microwave and wireless cable sites in the United States, Mr. Hollowell has continued working in the promotion, development and transition of the Broadband Radio Service ("BRS") and Educational Broadband Service ("EBS") spectrum at 2.5 GHz for supporting mobile wireless broadband deployments. He served on the Wireless Communications Association ("WCA") committee that compiled the initial re-write proposal and structure of today's FCC Rules for BRS and EBS licensees. Since adoption of the Rules, Mr. Hollowell has played a significant part in coordinating the spectrum transition of over 1500 EBS /BRS licenses and over 130 Basic Trading Areas throughout the country.

Today, Mr. Hollowell is involved with the broadcast, cable and wireless broadband industries as President of ComSpec Corporation, a telecommunications consulting firm located in Greensboro, NC.

Mr. Hollowell holds an Associate of Science Degree from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.

He is an active member in the Society of Broadcast Engineers("SBE"), the National Educational Broadband Service Association ("NEBSA"), the Wireless Communications Association ("WCA") and the WCA Engineering Committee. Mr. Hollowell proudly serves on the board of the North Carolina Barbecue Society. Additionally, he is a senior member of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers ("SCTE") and is a founding member, past president and current Executive Board member of the Piedmont SCTE serving North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia and Tennessee.

His favorite activity is enjoying life with his son, Scott (13). Additionally, his hobbies include traditional cooking for all types of barbecue pork, beef, chicken, fish and whatever is on special and or abundant. Aside from cooking, Mr. Hollowell also enjoys all types of fishing, camping hiking, cycling and most other outdoor activities. He is a perfectionist in the direction and craftsmanship for restoring historic structures. An Eagle Scout, Mr. Hollowell is active in supporting the Old North State Council and is Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 203 in Greensboro, NC.

NCBS is pleased to have Rick,  his expansive skills, his passion for BBQ and  belief in our mission, as an addition to our board.