For seventy-one years Vencil Mares arrived early in the morning at the Taylor Cafe (the red building on the left) where he greeted his customers and watched the trains roll by.
Today, his spot was empty.
This morning, he passed away at the age of ninety-six.
This Texas Monthly interview from February 2014 is fantastic:
https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/pitmaster-interview-vencil-mares-of-taylor-cafe/