This is James Milton Howell. He was 96 years old in this photo! He is our business associate who helped Jose learn the BBQ business. Jim, as he is fondly known, served in World War II, the Korean War. One of his flight Instructors was John Glenn. Mr. Howell started in the restaurant business back in Corpus Christi. He came to Austin in the mid 80’s and opened the Donn’s BBQ located at FM 969. Jim opened another location in Oak Hill in 1994 with a 3rd location opening in 2013 along I-35, South.
When you cook up some of the best BBQ of Texas, you have to give credit to those who mentored you! That’s why the other partner of Donn’s BBQ, Jose Guerrero, gives credit not only to James Howell, but to his Mother, Doña Sabina, and brother, Juan. It was Jose’s mother who instilled the love for cooking for a large family that consisted of 17 siblings. And Brother Juan showed him hard work does pay off. Though Mom & Brother are gone, that passion lives on in Jose. When you come to one of his locations, you can expect to be treated like family!
"Mi Casa es Su Casa"
