Fire Up That Grill!
Patterson man markets 'secret sauce' to BBQ lovers worldwide

By DeAnn Komanecky
Staff Writer, Blackshear Times

J.O. "Buddy" Echols has always been the type to share.

The retired Patterson insurance agent has shared something extra special with many over the years and very soon we will get the same chance. He has finally done what people have been telling him for years.

Sell that sauce.

Echols' "secret recipe" barbeque sauce and his rib rub have hit the shelves of several local grocery stores and will soon be available on the Internet.

"I've given away gallons of the sauce over the years," says Echols.

"That sauce is delicious," says Jimmy Wood. Wood, a retired Blackshear businessman, has been one of the lucky recipients of the sauce for many years.

Wood was excited to learn Echols will be selling the sauce and rub.

"It certainly is good news - I think it will do really well."

PCHS media specialist Mary Claire Boatright is another fan of the special sauce.

"We love it and eat it on everything," she laughs.

"Every time we sit at the table it's a part of our meal. I even bring it to school and use it," says Boatright.

Keeping all that sauce around has never been a problem for the Boatright family due to the generosity of Echols.

"I sometimes 'trade' him for it and bake him a cake - but he just has always given us some when we needed it," says Boatright.

"It's just a wonderful idea (to sell it) and give everyone a chance to taste it - we're really excited about the new business," adds Boatright.

Echol's home has been the scene for many a cookout using the popular vinegar based sauce over the last decades - including some rather famous guests.

"Sen. (Herman) Talmadge wanted William Simon (Secretary of the Treasury under Pres. Richard Nixon) to have some real Georgia Barbeque," says Echols.

The group, including Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, were visiting Sea Island at the time and Talmadge brought them over for some of Echols' cooking - and secret sauce, recalls Echols.

"The Secret Service came first and checked everything out," says Echols.

"We fed them all - they really liked it."

Echols has had a life-long relationship with the Talmadge family.

"Our fathers knew each other, so I've just always known them," says Echols.

Echols has also cooked for President Jimmy Carter's brother Billy. Billy was a guest at Echols' home while Carter worked in Waycross at Scott Housing. President Jimmy Carter is another "famous" person Echols has served with his cooking.

Patterson native and former U.S. Representative, Lindsay Thomas is another who has enjoyed Echols' sauce.

"It's sustained two generations of my family," says Thomas. "My dad put it on everything , even eggs and potato salad. We use it on everything, too."

Thomas no longer lives in Patterson, but the past president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce has always made sure he had his favorite sauce nearby.

"I've traveled a lot over the last twenty years and Ol' Bud sauce has gone with me," Thomas adds.

"I've served it to Master Chefs from the Olympics, to U.S. Senators and to U.S. Congressmen," says Thomas. "I've never heard anything but praise about it."

"I'll tell you when you put it on ribs you better have enough. It creates a feeding frenzy," laughs Thomas.

"It's truly a unique sauce," Thomas adds.

Echols has found retirement to be a busy time - especially now with a new business startup.

"If I had known how much work was going to be involved, I might not have done it," he says half-seriously.

Arranging for production, bar-coding, labeling and website production have been time consuming - and the cause of a few headaches.

"The jar for the rib rub is not quite the right size - it makes it look like it's not full," says Echols. He wants consumers to know the label is correct - it does have 25 ounces.

Echols has been happy to give away his sauce over the years, but there is one thing he won't give away.

The recipe.

"I'm the only one that knows it," says Echols.

That hasn't stopped some from trying to figure it out.

"People have unsuccessfully tried to analyze it," laughs Echols' wife Bonnie.

Even though Bonnie doesn't know the recipe, she has been part of the plans for the Ol' Bud sauce and rub.

"She came up with the saying for the rub," says Echols.

"Remember, your ribs ain't been rubbed 'til they've been rubbed with Ol' Bud."

*This article has been reprinted with the permission of the Blackshear Times.