Roland Dickey, Sr., has been a lover of barbecue all of his life and a part of his family's business for forty years. The son of Travis Dickey, creator of the first Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Dallas in 1941, Roland started at the family business making one dollar per week rolling tamales, bussing tables, and making sandwiches. A debate team member in high school and college, Dickey graduated from Southern Methodist University with the intent of following his dream of becoming a lawyer. Despite his attempt to leave the family business behind for greener pastures, he quickly learned that happiness-and success-could be found right in his own backyard. When his father died in 1967, he and his brother, Travis Dickey, Jr. (T. D.), took over the business. By the time Dickey's son, Roland Dickey, Jr., took over as president of the company in 2006, Roland Dickey, Sr., and T. D. had expanded the company throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area, making their barbecue a staple in North Texas culture. This raconteur has appeared on Live! with Regis and Kelly and has hosted his own cooking show on a Dallas radio station. With his oldest son now behind the business, Dickey enjoys cooking and entertaining and shares his stories in the pages of his cookbook. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Maureen, who serves as Dallas County Commissioner, District One.