Thomas "Silky" Sullivan

Thomas "Silky" Sullivan was a legendary Memphis restaurateur, entrepreneur, and a central figure in the Jim Quessenberry story. Described as a "bigger than life" ambassador for Memphis, he was a close friend and partner-in-crime to Jim, forming part of a colorful trio that included champion showman Ray "Red" Gill.

Silky was a fixture in the Memphis entertainment scene for four decades. He opened his first restaurant, Silky Sullivans, in Overton Square and later established the famous Silky O'Sullivans on Beale Street, which remained one of the highest-grossing establishments in the district. He was known for his beer-drinking goats, wild costumes, and deep compassion for the city.

Silky was the driving force behind the international barbecue trips that defined Jim Quessenberry's competitive peak. He "fathered the idea" for the International Barbecue Cookout on Galway Bay and organized the "Shamrock 1" flights that took American teams to Ireland in 1985 and 1987. Because of Silky's deep Irish roots and connections, Jim became a culinary diplomat, preparing Irish Lamb Stew at Memphis City Hall for over 1,000 guests — including the Irish Minister of Tourism — to kick off Memphis Irish Heritage Month.

One of the most famous stories involving Silky and Jim was their trip to the 1993 inaugural festivities for President Bill Clinton. The two men made a public spectacle by attending inaugural balls wearing tuxedos with tails paired with coonskin caps. Silky also wore a red banner reading "Sir Silky O'Sullivan" and famously claimed that crowds would simply part for them at the front doors without them having to show tickets. During the trip, Silky promoted Memphis barbecue to international media outlets like CNN and MTV.

Silky remained a loyal family friend long after Jim's passing. Michael Quessenberry recalls visiting Silky on Beale Street, where Silky would sit on his "throne" and announce to the crowd that Michael was the "King of Arkansas" as a way to honor his father.