John Mueller

John Mueller, 52, passed away after a long illness Thursday, December 16, at his home in Frisco, Texas.

John was born December 19,1968 in Taylor, TX, into the barbecue dynasty of the late Bobby and Trish Mueller and loving grandparents Louie and Leonor Mueller and Bernice and Luther Johnson

John graduated from Taylor High School and attended Texas Tech University before committing to his barbecue roots and passion. During the next 30 years, John would create a legendary trail of hot and fast meat that would take him all over Texas and into the record books as establishing the Austin barbecue scene. The twisting, colorful chronicles of his culinary career are long, well documented, and celebrated in Texas Monthly, Austin 360|Austin American Statesman and more. His perpetual goal and driving energy was his determination to be the best. By many accounts, he succeeded.

"Don't even try to tell me anybody does that s--- better," Anthony Bourdain said of John’s beef ribs.

While pits have been part of John’s life since he was a child, he was much more. In his youth, he was a formable athlete and played football, basketball and track throughout school. He also was known for some serious tackling in backyard pickup games. In high school, he coached champion softball teams and enjoyed staying active in many club activities. His infamous mercurial, jovial, and equally generous/arrogant character was always present.

John loved and is survived by sons Johnson Mueller and his wife, Marisol; Robert Mueller and his wife, Lilli; Andrew Mueller; and granddaughters, Amelia Rose and Sienna Lenore Mueller. His spirit and pit prowess will carry on with his sister and sister-in-law, LeAnn Mueller and Alison Clem of Austin.

Rest easy, dark prince of barbecue.