Jessie Cecil McLemore

Notes:

The American Culinarian
Chef of the Month
Texas Culinary Society
(undated clipping)

Cecil McLemore

American born, "out in the sticks" near Mineral Wells, Texas, Cecil McLeomore (sic) has earned for himself recognition as an accomplished Executive Chef of a resort type operation.

His career in the culinary arts started at the age of 20 in the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells. Since that time he has worked as Sous Chef at the Raleigh and Roosevelt Hotels in Waco, the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, and the Lamar Hotel in Meridian, Mississippi.

He went back to the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells in 1941 and served there as Chef until 1951 when he went to the Plainsmen Hotel in Lubbock.

In 1952, Mr. McLemore leased the Skyline Dining Room from the City of Lubbock and operated it until 1953.

From 1953 until 1957 he served as Executive Chef at Western Hills Hotel in Fort Worth. While on this job he had the privilege of studying for three years under the direction of Matthew Bernatsky, an instructor in foods at at University of Denver.

In February of 1956, Mr. McLemore won the "Gold F" award for serving superly fine foods at Western Hills Hotel.

In 1957, Mr. McLemore transferred to the Western Hills Lodge, his present domain. The Lodge is one of Oklahoma's popular resort places located twelve miles from Wagoner, Oklahoma, on a peninsula overlooking Fort Gibson Lake.

Cecil McLemore attended grade school and graduated from high school in the small town of Millsap, Texas, between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. While workign as a Sous Chef at the Raleigh Hotel in Waco, he married Ruth Shands. They have one son, Donald, who is attending Wagoner High School.

For diversion and entertainment, Cecil has developed three hobbies. He enjoys photography and is a ham radio operator. When those hobbies do not give him the thrill he wants, he can always take to the air, for his has a private pilot's license and likes to fly.

While he does not claim writing as a hobby, he writes a good story. As proof of this, read his story of the Western Hills Lodge operation in this magazine.

Mr. McLemore has developed a high degree of skill in ice carving, food decoration and showmanship. His buffets are outstanding and he has created considerable interest in his Sunday Buffets by having a different ice carving each Sunday. Anyone who thinks that the life of a chef must be dull and routine should spend some time with Chef Cecil McLemore at Western Hills Lodge.

Jessie married Ruth Shands before 1944. Ruth was born on 2 Feb 1919 in Whiteflat, Motley County, Texas; died on 4 Feb 1997 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas; was buried in Sturdivant Cemetery, Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]