We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lee Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with him below.

Lee – what’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Back in 2012, as I was setting the dinner table for the meal my wife was preparing, my cell phone rang. It was a call from a friend, asking whether I would be interested in catering a meal for him. Having spent many years around BBQ – whether in competitions or helping the community – catering was not an unfamiliar idea to me. The conversation quickly took an exciting turn when I learned that the meal would be served at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), in Oahu, HI. We would be serving the crew and families of the USS TEXAS (SSN 775).

After discussing the opportunity with fellow BBQ enthusiasts and working out the logistics, I jumped at the chance to cook for this crew. It was truly an honor. Witnessing the families interact and hearing their stories of life on the boat had a profound impact on us. We were captivated. We continued returning to JBPHH annually until Covid restrictions prevented us from traveling.

Serving the active-duty military was nothing new to my friends and I; we had been doing so for many years under the names of different organizations. We live in the greater Houston, TX, area, and have participated in annual Welcome Home experiences at both Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston and US Army Base Fort Cavazos. These events were self-funded: we did it because of who it was for, and we believed it was the right thing to do.

Once word started getting out about what we were doing and who it was for, people started inquiring about how to join us at these events, or if they could provide assistance  with the preparations. A Warriors Table was established in order to provide a means for people to make tax-deductible donations toward the meals, thereby allowing us to reach a larger audience.

There are many organizations which operate in the veterans field, offering every type of support imaginable to those who have served in our armed forces. We chose the active-duty field, providing Welcome Home meals to those who are recently returning from deployment.

A Warriors Table works with senior-level base leadership to schedule the meals two weeks or more post-deployment, once the families have had a chance to reconnect. We honor the sacrifices made not only by those away on deployment but also by those left behind to watch the home and family. We keep our meals limited to the company- or wing-sized level, capping attendance at 250 people, including the active-duty personnel, their family members, and any senior leadership who wish to attend. This service offers senior base leadership the ability to do something they may not otherwise be able to do – recognize a smaller group for exemplary performance in the field.

Since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, there is no cost to the military for these meals, as they are generously underwritten by our donors. With the budgetary constraints the military is operating under these days, no-cost celebratory events are exactly what they are looking for.

Switching gears, talk more about yourself and how you got involved in this line of work.

Cooking great BBQ has been a passion of mine for many years, providing me a much-needed respite from the daily grind of life. My wife of 37 years, Carolyn, and our two now-grown boys grew up with the smell of mesquite smoke in the fiber of my clothes.

Volunteering and giving back to my community have long been a tenant of mine. At the age of 30, I decided I was ready to start giving back and volunteered with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR) on the World’s Championship BBQ committee, helping to feed BBQ to the attending crowd. My participation with the organization opened many doors, introducing me to like-minded people whose interest mirrored mine.

A couple of friends and I competed nationally for a few years, experiencing the best of BBQ in different parts of the country and expanding our flavor profiles. The experience made me a better cook.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

A Warriors Table was founded by three longtime friends who met out on the grounds of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s World’s Championship BBQ Cook-off. Each of us came from different backgrounds, but all were based around feeding others. We have been friends for over 30 years now.

My background was in food preparation for large groups; Rhonda Wood came from chuckwagon cooking competitions; Ken Rammrath worked with local first responders, feeding them and the community in times of need.

Our opportunities with the military really started to grow as we worked with the various branches during military celebrations at HLSR. Meeting the senior-level officers face-to-face gave us the chance to tell them what we were offering and how it would benefit their service members. As our reputations grew, so did our opportunities. When an officer who attended our meals would transfer to another installation, they would tell the new group about what we offered, and they, in turn, would request us at their facility.

Tell us about a story of resilience from your journey.

The mantra that keeps A Warriors Table going is based on a conversation we had with Captain Andrew Hertel, CO at the time of the USS TEXAS (SSN775). He told us, “I get six months of excellence out of my crew due to the meal that you provide – three months leading up to the meal and three months afterward. They understand that they are protecting people like you, who take it upon themselves to come out and show appreciation for their service. You do not have to do it, yet you choose to do so out of honor and respect. You and your team are a force multiplier, making us better through your generosity”.

Knowing that our meals are the impetus behind greater focus and intensity in the field keeps us striving for excellence ourselves and expanding out to more installations. It is not often that a civilian can influence how our military operates in the field, but if we can do just that through our service to them, then we have done our job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.awarriorstable.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_warriors_table/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557213825355
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lee-smith-11a60330/
• Other: https://www.tinker.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4005663/a-warriors-table-serves-at-tinker/

Image Credits

All images belong to A Warriors Table.