Chili brings out a hungry crowd

State Sen. Jim Tracy, left, visits with Peoples Bank customers Wednesday at the bank's Customer Appreicaition Day. Free chili, drinks and desserts were handed out, along with baseball caps. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

The side streets around Peoples Bank of Bedford County were lined with parked cars Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and nobody seemed to mind at all.

Kim Ward of Peoples Bank brings Harold Arnold, center, and Estill Cook their chili at Customer Appreciation Day. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

People were walking down the road, calling out greetings to those sitting on the porches, and they were all lining up for lunch. There were lawyers and farmers, mechanics and doctors, politicians and grandmothers of all colors and backgrounds.

A bright tent covered rows and rows of tables, all filled with bank customers and covered with bowls of chili.

Not just any chili -- Bobby "Hoss" Cartwright's chili. Hoss has been providing the chili for People's Bank's annual Customer Appreciation Day for about a decade now. Holding court in his bib overalls, he handed out chili, jokes and advice -- everything but the recipe to his famous dish.

"I'll never give up the secret recipe," he said with a grin.

Peoples Bank has been offering Customer Appreciation Day for 10 years now, said Connie Heflin.

Hoss Cartwright, right, watches as Peoples Bank customers line up for a taste of his chili. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"The board came up with the idea," she said. "We do it every year for our customers, to show our appreciation."

And do the customers appreciate the free chili, rich brownies and caps being handed out?

"I come every year," said Estill Cook.

"It's good chili," said his friend, Harold Arnold. "A lot of cheese in it."

The weather for Wednesday's event was as close to perfect as could be hoped for,

"It's a big turnout," said Heflin. "We usually have cars parked all the way down the street. It's never been too wet or too cold. The Lord's blessed us. One year, it was a little cool and we brought the older folks inside, but everybody wanted to eat out here."