Rich Davis
Encyclopedia
Richard E. Davis founded KC Masterpiece
barbecue sauce
.
Davis, born in Joplin, Missouri
, graduated from Topeka High School
in 1944 and served a year and a half in the army. After World War II
, he attended Washburn University
, Columbia University
and Colorado College
. While at Washburn, he was initiated into the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
. He received a medicine degree from the University of Kansas in 1954.
Specializing in child psychiatry he helped found the Eastern Virginia Medical School
and served from 1975-76 as Dean of the North Dakota School of Medicine
.
In 1977, he moved to Kansas City
and began marketing various culinary concepts including Muschup (a combination of ketchup
and mustard
), Dill
ed Muschup and K.C. Soul Style Barbecue Sauce.
His original barbecue sauce started with only 5 ingredients. While Muschup and Dilled Muschup sold well, the barbecue sauce was the most popular selling 3,000 cases of it in Kansas City. He changed its name to KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce.
In 1986, he sold the sauce to the Kingsford division of the Clorox
company, which took the barbecue sauce nationwide. Presently it is claimed by the manufacturer to be the number 1 selling premium barbecue sauce in the country. He retained rights to use the sauce at restaurants he was to develop. Of the seven that eventually opened, only the one in Overland Park, Kansas
remains, but is no longer owned by the Davis family.
He and his sons prepared a barbecue for George H.W. Bush in 1992 and George W. Bush
in 2004.
All American Bar-B-Q (1988)
All About Bar-B-Q Kansas City Style (1985)
KC Masterpiece
KC Masterpiece is a barbecue sauce which has been claimed by its manufacturer to be the number 1 premium barbecue sauce sold in the United States....
barbecue sauce
Barbecue sauce
Barbecue sauce is a flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...
.
Davis, born in Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, graduated from Topeka High School
Topeka High School
Topeka High School is a fully accredited high school, serving students in grades 9-12, located in Topeka, Kansas. It is one of four high schools within Topeka Public Schools. The school colors are black and gold...
in 1944 and served a year and a half in the army. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he attended Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. While at Washburn, he was initiated into the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
. He received a medicine degree from the University of Kansas in 1954.
Specializing in child psychiatry he helped found the Eastern Virginia Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School commonly referred to as EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
and served from 1975-76 as Dean of the North Dakota School of Medicine
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
.
In 1977, he moved to Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and began marketing various culinary concepts including Muschup (a combination of ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
and mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
), Dill
Dill
Dill is a perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists in a related genus as Peucedanum graveolens C.B.Clarke.-Growth:...
ed Muschup and K.C. Soul Style Barbecue Sauce.
His original barbecue sauce started with only 5 ingredients. While Muschup and Dilled Muschup sold well, the barbecue sauce was the most popular selling 3,000 cases of it in Kansas City. He changed its name to KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce.
In 1986, he sold the sauce to the Kingsford division of the Clorox
Clorox
The Clorox Company is a US-based manufacturer of various food and chemical products based in Oakland, California, which is best known for its bleach product, Clorox.- History :...
company, which took the barbecue sauce nationwide. Presently it is claimed by the manufacturer to be the number 1 selling premium barbecue sauce in the country. He retained rights to use the sauce at restaurants he was to develop. Of the seven that eventually opened, only the one in Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park, Kansas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
remains, but is no longer owned by the Davis family.
He and his sons prepared a barbecue for George H.W. Bush in 1992 and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2004.
Books
Wild About Bar-B-Q Kansas City Style(1997) (ISBN 0-925175-11-0)All American Bar-B-Q (1988)
All About Bar-B-Q Kansas City Style (1985)