Our Pitmaster
Will Hair, Pitmaster | SmokeMasters Championship BBQ Team
Affectionately known as "Uncle Woo" to his six nieces and nephews, Pitmaster Will Hair has been cooking as part of SmokeMasters BBQ since 2007. Will competes in Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) competitions and occasionally in Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) contests.
A two-time MBN Team of the Year winner, Will has achieved remarkable success on the BBQ circuit. In 2024, he and his team earned 2nd Place in Whole Hog, 2nd Place in Pulled Pork, 1st Place in Ribs, and were crowned Grand Champions at the inaugural SmokeSlam: The World’s Ultimate BBQ Showdown. Additionally, SmokeMasters has placed in the top four at the prestigious Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest four times since 2012.
Outside the BBQ world, Will has been a professional locksmith for over 20 years and currently serves as Senior Locksmith at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. A proud supporter of St. Jude’s lifesaving mission, Finding Cures, Saving Children, Will frequently dons a St. Jude baseball hat at competitions and in his YouTube videos.
Will’s wife, Katie—also a St. Jude employee—has been by his side every step of the way on the BBQ competition trail. She has even begun competing herself, earning recognition with impressive finishes, including 5th Place in Ribs at the women’s-only Bitches of BBQ competition and 7th Place in Pulled Pork at the 2024 Arlington BBQ Blowout. Together, they enjoy cheering on the University of Memphis Tigers and RV camping with their Labrador retrievers, Cotton and Que.
Will is proud to be sponsored by Orion Federal Credit Union, Heath Riles BBQ, Royal Oak Charcoal, and Compart Family Farms, whose support fuels his passion for creating championship-winning barbecue.
