SLOW-COOKED BARBECUE fused with the cozy scent of wood smoke as Bob Reynolds leaned out of the Squidbilly Vittles BBQ food truck window, greeting the growing line of customers with a smile. Behind him, tongs clattered and sizzling meat hissed, audible even through the food truck’s windows. But if you caught a glimpse of Reynolds’ eyes, you’d see his courage, love for people, and a career that started long before he ever fired up a smoker.
Back in 1972, fresh out of Dade County High School in Georgia, Reynolds had never ventured far from the small town of Trenton, population 1,800. That changed the day he boarded a plane — his first ever — and headed to Navy boot camp with four buddies under the military’s buddy program. A world of 47 countries and many life lessons awaited him, starting with the jaw-dropping sight of the USS Midway.
“I looked up at it, and it was amazing to know that there were 5,500 people on [it]. There were only 1,800 in my hometown, so that was different for me.”
The transition wasn’t easy for the small-town recruit, and it showed early on when Reynolds struggled to fold his clothes to Navy standards. His drill instructor was quick to notice.
“You keep folding clothes like that, Reynolds, and you won’t be a hillbilly anymore — you’ll be a ‘Squidbilly,’” the instructor barked, devising a nickname that would follow him even after his military career.
He started his career painting the ship’s hull as a nervous recruit and eventually rose up the ranks to Chief master-at-arms. Reynolds’ Navy career spanned decades, continents, and life-changing events.
Thanks to a high school typing class, which his sister, Helen Reynolds Geddie — a typing teacher — encouraged him to take, he traded paintbrushes for paperwork. He became a yeoman, handling administrative tasks. From there, he transitioned to Master-at-Arms, proving to himself that nothing could hold him back.
“I served on aircraft carriers and destroyers with only about 350 people on them,” he shared. “I’ve been to 27 different countries. And I spent time in Singapore, all over the Pacific, Korea, Osan, Yokosuka, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.”
After a while, Reynolds considered joining the reserves instead of reenlisting, but a 45-day visit home to see his ill father — whose time was drawing to a close — gave him a chance to seek a second opinion from a loved one.
During this visit, Reynolds found a way to honor his father and make him proud one last time.
“My dad told me when I came back to visit, ‘If there’s anything you can do for me, it’s that you retire out of the Navy.’”
After reenlisting to serve a little longer, Reynolds concluded a fulfilling 30-year military career. After retirement, he returned to Georgia, where a new chapter awaited him in law enforcement. He became a lieutenant with the Dade County Sheriff’s Department, serving as a canine commander and drug officer.
Later, the mayor of Cowan and the city council unanimously invited him to lead the city’s police force as its new chief of police. There, Reynolds introduced a community-oriented policing system, earning admiration and respect from people across Middle Tennessee.
Years later, when Reynolds launched his food truck business, the principles he learned at sea — hard work, community, and service — came ashore with him. Today, those morals are evident in every plate of ribs and pulled pork from the Squidbilly Vittles food truck.
This veteran-owned business has been serving up some of the best barbecue in Estill Springs since the beginning of 2019. Here, hearts meet over plates piled high with tender barbecue and a side of Southern hospitality where they share the latest town news and create memories.
Squidbilly’s name is a nostalgic reference to the nickname his commanding officer gave him in boot camp decades before. “Squid” is the term sailors often use for themselves. This remark stuck with him over the years and became the perfect name for his new venture.
However, Reynolds didn’t take on this endeavor alone. His team includes his wife, Molly (Mama Squid); his son, Ricky Licktig (Pit Rick); his close friend and fellow veteran, Dale Heskeith (House Cat); and their beloved friend, Ashley (Baby Girl).
Together, they’ve built Squidbilly into a business that also serves as a safe place where people feel seen, heard, and well taken care of.
It’s impossible not to feel the love radiating from every person there, from when they welcome you at the window to when you take your first bite.
“Mama Squid” keeps everything running smoothly with her tender smile and ready laugh. “Pit Rick” operates the grill precisely, while “House Cat” makes sure the sides are just as flavorful as the main dishes. Ashley, the cheerful cashier and event coordinator, rounds out the team, greeting everyone and making sure no one feels like a stranger.
The food itself is as memorable as the people serving it. Bob and his team cook every meal carefully, using high-quality, and often local, ingredients. The slow-cooked ribs, coated in his famous “Squid Dust Rub,” practically fall off the bone. The pulled pork melts in your mouth, bursting with smoky goodness.
Then there’s the cornbread — golden brown on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. To round out the meal, sides include creamy mashed potatoes, baked beans seasoned to perfection, and a helping of fresh peach cobbler.
Bob shared how grateful he was for his safe return home and the blessings he can now give back to the community.
“I’m 70, my buddy’s 74, and we’re blessed even to be here,” he said. “To have gone through what we went through in the military and law enforcement for so long — there’s a lot of danger involved. And we lived through it. We were fortunate enough to come home.”
Bob believed a great way to express his gratitude was to keep prices affordable from the start, especially during tough economic times.
“One day, the good Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Let’s do something with people. Let’s help them because so many people are struggling with this economy like it is. The interest rates, gas prices, and food prices are going up. So if you’re blessed, pay it forward.'”
He added, “They love it, and they’re just coming in gross because we treat people right.”
Squidbilly has become a “must-visit” for the community, offering free meals to veterans on Veterans and Memorial Day, hosting fundraisers for local charities, and creating a space where people can connect.
“If more people helped others, we’d have a better place. Don’t look at the dollar. Look at the people. If they’re struggling and they need some help, you don’t have to ask them. You pick up on it. Pay attention, listen to them, and watch their actions.”
Even in the cold winter, “Team Squid” is up before dawn, smoking meat and preparing sides to prepare the truck for the next big event. Customers travel from miles away to get a taste of their barbecue, often preordering food so they won’t miss out.
As long as Bob and his team are behind the counter, serving up delicious meals with a side of love, Squidbilly will remain a place where this community always feels like home. And that, ultimately, makes it a place worth visiting. GN
