"Big, Bad, Jim"

Jimmy Ray Dean, born August 10, 1928 in Plainview, Texas, died June 13, 2010, of natural causes at his Henrico County, Virginia home.



Singer and songwriter, Dean was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, on February 23, 2010.



A successful entertainer in the 1960s, including the nationally televised, 'The Jimmy Dean Show.' He appeared on TV talk shows, game shows, and performed on popular variety programs.



An actor, he starred as the reclusive Las Vegas billionaire, Willard Whyte, in the movie, "Diamonds are Forever". He also acted on various TV shows including, "Daniel Boone," and "Fantasy Island".
In 1969, he created the Jimmy Dean Meat Company, and his sausage became a successful business and a household name. In 1984, he sold the company to Sara Lee and was their spokesman until 2005.


How I came to make sausage: "I was raising hogs in west Texas — about six thousand a year. It was going along really fine, and then the market fell out. All of a sudden I was losing about twenty dollars an animal every time I sold one. What in the hell am I gonna do? I can't stand this forever. So I was having breakfast in a little old diner in my hometown. Sausage and eggs. I pulled some gristle out from between my teeth about the size of the end of your little finger and I said, "Man, there's got to be room for quality sausage in this country." That's over thirty-five years ago, and we've been number one in this country for a long, long time. Now I'm more famous for my sausage than my music. That's all right."

This is to honor Jimmy, and my favorite food---breakfast, lunch or dinner---in a bag.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Dean.