Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Chris McLemore was only in middle school when he became an athletic star. After his taxing games, he would head straight to work to help out in his family’s legendary Las Vegas barbecue restaurant, Uncle Ben’s Bar-B-Que. It was not uncommon for there to be lines of hungry customers formed down the block for sometimes as long as 3 a.m. at their historic West Las Vegas site. Under the direction of taskmaster, James McLemore (affectionately known as “Uncle Ben”) the business was methodically managed. Uncle Ben was not one to tolerate slacking, nor did he take no for an answer from his son, Chris.
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Uncle Ben stressed to Chris that for the business to succeed there were major components that had to be in place. First and foremost, it was imperative that he adopted a hands-on approach to every aspect of the business. Chris was indoctrinated with a business model which required that he ensured customers were served in a timely manner and most importantly, that the food quality was always met with the same level of satisfaction.
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​Working under Uncle Ben’s guidance taught Chris the value of hard work, dedication and mental toughness to fight on in the face of exhaustion during some of the most challenging times of his life. He also developed the ability to change hats and jump right in wherever there was a service that needed to be fulfilled, whether it be in the restaurant or in the community. Feeding the homeless during major holidays was both, a yearly commitment and an honor for Uncle Ben’s Bar-B-Que. It should be noted that Uncle Ben’s Bar-B-Que served the community for over 30 years.
Through continued perseverance and dedication, Chris went on to get his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Arizona. He was also fortunate enough to accomplish his dream of playing in the NFL for several years. He later held the position of Chief Operations Officer of a local textile company. In that position, he was responsible for overseeing as many as 300 employees. As grateful as Chris was for that opportunity and the responsibilities and recognition that went along with it, he always knew that one day he would return to his community to make a difference and continue his family's legacy
Now, armed with a passion for helping others,a work ethic that’s second to none, and family recipes that made his father’s business a household name here in the Las Vegas valley, Chris is prepared to take his family’s legacy to new heights. By combining his family trade, and his influence in the community, the Tuck and Run Foundation will be able to make a difference for generations to come.
The Legacy
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