The barbecue preacher of Wilmington is about to get some much-needed help.

Rev. Beaugard

        In July, we told you about the Rev. Troy Beaugard and his wife, Bobbie, who own and operate Beaugard's Southern Bar “B” Que at the edge of this Clinton County town, about an hour northeast of Cincinnati. The Beaugards make and sell the pork, beef and chicken barbecue Monday through Saturday, and then hold services on Sunday at the First Evangelist Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington, where the Rev. Mr. Beaugard is pastor.

        The Beaugards bought the church building, and with the help of the church's small flock, have been paying the mortgage for the last six years.

        It's been difficult for the Beaugards to divide their time between cooking barbecue and teaching the Gospel.

        But soon, their eldest son, Marty and his wife, Dianne, will join them in the business. Marty has just retired from the Air Force and is moving to Wilmington from Germany, where he had been stationed.

        “It's been a long, hot summer,” says the Rev. Mr. Beaugard. “I can't wait for him to get here.”

Started barbecuing early

        He learned to make barbecue as a young man, working at a restaurant called the Dixie Pig in his home of Blytheville, Ark. The Rev. Mr. Beaugard, 63, worked at a saw mill until he was one of the first African-Americans hired at the Textron plant in Blytheville.

        He moved his way up in the company and was transferred by Textron to Wilmington in 1992. Eight years later, he turned down a promotion in order to retire, open his restaurant and start a church.

        Because operating the business is so demanding, the Beaugards haven't had as much time to spend with their congregation as they wanted.

Seeking more members

        When their son and daughter-in-law arrive, they hope they'll be able to recruit more church members. They plan to turn the restaurant over to Marty in two years.

        “He knows how hard this work is,” says the Rev. Mr. Beaugard. “He's been working in it since he was 6. And he always said he wanted to be like his daddy.”

        Beaugard's Southern Bar “B” Que, 1173 Wayne Road, Wilmington; (937) 655-8100. Open: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Wednesday; and 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday.

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