Kent Black

A Third-Generation Pitmaster at The Original Black’s Barbecue, Kent Black was born in 1952 in Lockhart – known to many as the Barbecue Capital of Texas. As a child, Kent was an entrepreneur and would sell snow cones outside the store. By his teenage years, Kent was learning the ropes at the family business, from stocking the grocery store to working in the restaurant.

Kent earned his law degree from the South Texas College of Law in Houston and became a prosecutor for the state of Texas – but he never forgot his roots in barbecue. He opened his law practice next to the family business in Lockhart, where he regularly offered a helping hand until he later retired from law and stepped in to operate The Original Black’s Barbecue full-time.

Whether it was opening a new location or introducing giant beef ribs to the barbecue scene, The Original Black’s Barbecue has thrived thanks to Kent’s leadership and the strong foundation that his parents laid. Since opening in 1932, The Original Black’s Barbecue is now located in four cities across Central Texas, sharing a 92-year legacy with folks from all over the world.