Awards at Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue in Plugerville

The late John Brotherton at the 2023 Houston Barbecue Festival

Like they did every year in January, John Brotherton and Russell Roegels spoke by phone in the days leading up to Camp Brisket, the Texas A&M University-sponsored weekend of professional and amateur pitmasters rubbing elbows and swapping stories about Texas barbecue.

“I just don’t feel good,” Brotherton told Roegels. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it [to Camp Brisket].”

GUIDE: Houston's best barbecue joints

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“It’s fine, I got it if you can’t make it,” Roegels said. “Don’t come up here if you’re sick.”

Still, it was rare for Brotherton to miss an event, no matter how difficult the circumstances. So Roegels knew something was seriously amiss when he didn’t show up for the start of camp on Friday morning.

That’s when Roegels got a text from Brotherton's wife, Brenda. John had gone into........

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