Jesse James Freelen, candidate for Justice of the Peace, and his chili team, Gavel Time, cooked the first place prize winning chili, winning a $500 prize at this year’s 4th annual Rotary Club chili cook off. Click to enlarge. (eParisExtra photo by Josh Allen)
Despite the rainy and cold weather that threatened to cancel this year’s Rotary Club’s 4th annual ‘Ultimate Super Bowl Tailgate Party and Chili Showdown’, the cook off went on to be a success, as many people came in support of the event and raised several thousand dollars for the Rotary Club of Paris.
There were cash prizes for the top three teams and awards given for the best decorated chili station, best dressed chili team and most enthusiastic.
The best chili in the showdown was cooked by Jesse James Freelen‘s team ‘Gavel Time’. Freelen is a candidate in the race for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2. His team was awarded a $500 prize for first place.
Second place went to Lamar National Bank’s team, who were awarded a check for $250. Third place, who was awarded a $150 prize, was the Lamar County Texas A&M Club’s Good Bull Chili team.
The ‘Best Decorated’ award went to Tanglez chili station, while the team named ‘Best Dressed’ was the Century 21 team.
The ‘Most Enthusiastic’ award went to the James Hodge Motor Company team.
The judges for this year’s 4th annual Rotary Club chili cook off were Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley, Lamar County Court at Law Judge Bill Harris, and Texas State Representative George Lavender.
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra
