A newly digitized photo collection from the Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University takes viewers inside the smoky, flavor-filled showdown that launched one of Texas’ most iconic traditions: the First Terlingua Chili Cookoff, held on October 21, 1967.
Captured by photographer Peter Koch, the 11 historic photographs document the much-publicized chili battle between legendary writers H. Allen Smith and Wick Fowler. Hosted in the ghost town of Terlingua, nestled in southern Brewster County, the event ended in a draw — but sparked a chili rivalry that lives on.
The full collection is available online:
🔗 First Terlingua Chili Cookoff Photo Collection – Sul Ross Digital Archives
Highlights from the Collection:
📸 Image 1 – Featured Image:
Famed journalist Wick Fowler and columnist Leon Hale join Judges Floyd Schneider and David Witts, along with other figures, in a candid tasting moment that defined the contest’s tension and joy.
📸 Image 2: Judge Floyd Schneider focuses intensely as he samples one of the entries.
📸 Image 3: Judges David Witts and Hallie Stillwell deliberate over chili flavor and authenticity.
📸 Image 4: Contestant Wick Fowler leans over his pot, carefully tasting and adjusting his recipe.
📸 Image 5: A friendly exchange between Leon Hale and Fowler, showcasing camaraderie despite the rivalry.
📸 Images 6–8: Opponent H. Allen Smith preps his chili with theatrical flair, stirring pots and sampling alongside automotive legend Carroll Shelby, who would go on to be one of the cookoff’s most colorful promoters.
📸 Image 9: Carroll Shelby makes an appearance, foreshadowing his future influence on the event’s growth.
📸 Images 10–11: Crowd shots convey the lively spirit of the day — a mix of locals, writers, and curious onlookers who gathered in the desert for what would become a Texas culinary legacy.
These images are not only a record of a friendly culinary duel but a glimpse into the cultural heart of West Texas in the 1960s. With humor, heat, and hearty bowls of red, the Terlingua Cookoff would become a cornerstone of Texas food lore.
View the full collection here:
👉 https://digitalcollections.sulross.edu/digital/collection/p17278coll1/search
(Search “First Terlingua Chili Cookoff” to browse all 11 photographs.)
Source:
Peter Koch Papers, Archives of the Big Bend
Digitized by Sul Ross State University
Collection includes related materials: H. Allen Smith Papers, 1933–1976
