Met and ate at Johns places on several occassions. Any time I would head down to Austin I would make sure I ate there. First time was when he had just started his own trailer and was over on the west side of town which evenutally turned into the original LA BBQ it was John and John Lewis working then I believe. I can still remember my first time and how the smoke hung in the air on a cool Saturday. The food was incredible.
Then he made his way over to East Austin and had his smoker and trailer set up. I walked in wearing a Lockhart BBQ shirt and he called me out for wearing another BBQ joints shirt to his place and told me I shouldn't have done that. I order my food sit down and start eating, he waits a while and comes over to my table and sits down and ask me how the food is (It was damn good and I told him so) he laid a shirt down on the table and said "here is a better looking shirt for you to wear next time, and don't tell anyone I gave it to you because I'm supposed to be an asshole". One of the best moments of my going to BBQ joints I've ever had.
I went back to that same location a few more times and each time there was something off or missing and you could tell that business wasn't long for being around.
I think I have watched every youtube video of John Mueller stuff I can find. I have always been fascinated with the man. We would tweet and DM back and forth and he would always tell me he appreciated me being a teacher. Just a good good dude to me on the occassions we interacted. I saw him in November at BBQ Festival and he looked frail. I will remember the man the myth and the legend that was John Mueller. He would tell you he was a cook, damn sure not a pitmaster. Rest in Peace John Mueller.