Heats Up Downtown Huntington
The annual event, also a sanctioned competition for chili-makers, was sponsored by Chili Willi's and WSAZ among others, with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House.
Event organizer and owner of Chili Willi's, Ron Smith, said he was extremely pleased with the turnout.
"The crowd was incredible," Smith said. "The participation in chili making was great. These people travel all over the country and compete. It's been great."
Smith also said there were famous chili cooks competing as well.
"There are some really great cooks here today," Smith said. "We have the 1996 World Champion, and our local people competed side by side with them. We've also had a lot of out of state chili cooks."
Making money for the Ronald McDonald house was also very important, Smith said.
"My first impression is that we've made more money for the Ronald McDonald house than ever," Smith said. "It's a great cause, and we like to help them however we can."
Jared Morrison, a.k.a. local artist "Licky Oats", waxed philosophical about the day's events.
"It's a moment in time," Morrison said. "It's a moment in time in which the people are no longer employees or consumers, but rather, family. I've seen people here I haven't seen in years. I'm having a great time."
Morrison also said that even though there were more people than chili, it was still a good time.
"The customers outweighed the chili, but that didn't matter," Morrison said. "Huntington never does (anything), but then, when they do do (something), people go crazy about it."
A complete list of winners follows:
Media
3rd - WAMX
2nd - WSAZ
1st - WTCR
Booth & Showmanship
3rd - One-Eyed Willi's
2nd - GEO
1st - Fat Boys Chili
Most Chili Tickets Sold
3rd - Back Door Chili
2nd - Lady of the Elks
1st - Fat Boys Chili
Salsa
3rd - Bill Donovan
2nd - Thelma Eperly
1st - John Vandlind
Chili Verde
3rd - Robert Reed
2nd - Archie Chestnut
1st - James Richards
Chili Red
5th - Carolyn Blakemore
4th - Chuck Hoff
3rd - Harry Lynch
2nd - Archie Chestnut
1st - Georgia Weller (The 1996 World Champ)
Ms. Weller will represent WV in the World Championships this year in Laughlin, NV.
The "Chili Red" Competition.
The Winner Will Represent WV
In The Chili World Championships in Laughlin, NV
T. Michael Murdock, Staff Editor & Reporter
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