Albert Agnor was a Marshall standout who turned a family chili recipe into a statewide calling card. An insurance man who loved the cook-off circuit, he won the 1976 World Championship Chili Cook-off in Terlingua and quickly became known as the Texas Chili King. His family opened The Chili House in the old Ginocchio Hotel and began selling his dried spice mixes across East Texas, keeping that award-winning blend alive long after the trophies cooled. When Texas named chili the official state dish

The Terlingua Chili Cookoff began in 1967 when Texas chili legend Wick Fowler faced writer H. Allen Smith. The battle was over real Texas red — no beans allowed — and their showdown in the desert launched the world’s most famous chili cookoff. Nothing washes down Texas chili like @lonestarbeer #texas #americana #chili | Truck Stop Chic