MEET THE DIXIEDINING.COM CEO
(Chief Eating Officer)

(Gary chowing down at the Rendezvous in Memphis, Tennessee.)

Name: Gary Saunders
Email: gary@dixiedining.com
Age: 47
Hometown: Virginia

Resides: Siesta Key, Florida

(Gary and his wife Eileen with Stax Legend Isaac Hayes.)

Work History: Currently the Manager of Corporate Sales and Marketing for the Sarasota Reds, the Florida State League affiliate of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds (www.sarasotareds.com, www.cincinnatireds.com). Spent ten years in professional baseball management with the Cardinals, Astros, Rockies, and Braves organizations. Served as GM of the Atlanta Braves affiliate in Myrtle Beach, SC. Previously employed in broadcasting as a sportscaster and DJ in Southwest Virginia. Air names included Jack Eddy and The Rockin' Fig.

Education: Graduate of Virginia Tech, 1981; Mass Communications major with emphasis on Radio, TV and Journalism.

Family: Wife (Eileen) and boys (Austin and Travis). Parents (Glenn and Betty Jane) and two brothers (Bill and Mark) still reside in my home state of Virginia.

(Gary with actor Morgan Freeman.)

Hobbies: Music, collecting Southern Folk/Outsider art objects and Hawaiian print shirts, travel, body surfing, picking the guitar, and home cooking; I have authored one cookbook, Home Plate, which was published by Crane Hill in 2001.  A Dixie Dining Cookbook is now in production (in collaboration with my wife, Eileen, and Hill Street Press of Athens, GA). An avid follower of Virginia Tech Football and the Washington Redskins. Also a big fan of Washington Nationals baseball.

Favorite books: “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” (John Berendt) and “All Over But the Shoutin’” (Rick Bragg).

Favorite Southern Movies: "The Apostle," "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Color Purple," and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Dream Meal: Smoky Pulled Pork BBQ, Collard Greens cooked with fatback, creamy Mac and Cheese, Mom's Crispy Fried Okra and Granny Justice's Red Velvet Cake washed down with a big glass of Sweet Tea with a fresh and juicy lemon wedge.

Favorite songs: Green Onions by Booker T and MGs, Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White, and Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

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