Nashville's Frank Platt, remembered as 'Godfather of barbecue,' killed in Memphis shooting

Frank Platt, a staple in the Nashville barbecue community, died in Memphis Monday after he was shot four blocks from the home he grew up in, on the 3000 block of Coleman Road in the Raleigh community.

Memphis police said on social media they responded at 7:53 p.m. to Methodist North Hospital after a male shooting victim arrived in critical condition.

Frank Platt's brother Malcolm Platt called the shooting senseless.

Frank Platt was in town visiting family, and he and his brother Michael Platt were leaving their childhood home when someone whizzed by them, driving at a high rate of speed, Malcolm Platt told the Tennessean Wednesday.

Malcolm Platt said the driver came to a stop along the bike lane four blocks away from the house. When Michael Platt pulled alongside the vehicle, Malcolm Platt said someone fired three shots into the car his brothers were riding in.

Malcolm Platt said Frank Platt's last words were "I'm hit" as gunfire erupted.

He told The Tennessean one of the rounds entered under Frank Platt's arm and lodged next to his heart.

Michael Platt drove his brother to a nearby hospital, where they were trying to transport Frank Platt by medical helicopter. He died before he could be transported, Malcolm Platt said.

Frank Platt remembered in Middle Tennessee as the 'Godfather of barbecue'

Andy Gilley, Hendersonville's parks and recreation director, was first introduced to Frank Platt four years ago by his fiancé. They were at the Green Hills Corner Pub, where Frank Platt always has a table reserved for him, to watch the Tennessee Titans take on the New England Patriots in the playoffs.

The Titans won, and Gilley won a friend that night.

Frank Platt's friend group ran deep. When word began to spread about his death, Gilley said he was up well past midnight fielding calls and text messages, sharing and receiving memories about his friend.

"Frank is connected to a lot of people by one degree of separation," Gilley said. "He was the backbone of a large community of a great group of people. He had a great ability to love one another. I don’t think anything gave him as much joy as seeing other people have a good time."

When the pandemic hit, the Christmas for Kids fundraiser in Sumner County was in jeopardy. Frank Platt answered the call, coming out of retirement as an organizer for what used to be the Nashville barbecue festival, and together with the tight knit community he'd built around himself, they raised $50,000 for the program.

Over the last four years, the effort grew into what is now Hendersonville's Pig Fest — a two-day charity event with a concert, barbecue competition and a kids zone. Frank Platt was "the Godfather of barbecue," Gilley said.

Malcolm Platt said his brother gained a love of barbecue growing up in Memphis, where the family would frequent the famed Memphis in May barbecue competition.

Frank Platt teamed with Peg Leg Porker owner Carey Bringle to compete at Memphis in May.

The Nashville barbecue restaurant owner said Frank Platt was a great friend.

"Rest in peace, Frank. You made the world a better place and made Nashville a better place. You also showed your friends how to be a great friend. Peg Leg will be missing a little piece of its soul this year at the restaurant, on the river in Memphis, and in every glass of our bourbon," Bringle said in a statement on Facebook.

"Heaven has gained a faithful servant, but our community has lost a close friend. If I forget to tell you later, I had a great time with you in my life, Frank."

Like Frank Platt, Bringle grew up in Memphis and has competed at Memphis in May more than 30 times.

"Nashville has lost a part of its heart and soul in that Frank had so many community relationships and was able to connect so many good people," Gilley said. "You cannot replace somebody like that."

At the end of a night together with his best friends, Frank Platt always sent one last text message.

"He would always send everyone a text that said 'In case I forgot to tell you, I had a damn good time tonight,'" Gilley said. "Man, he’s going to be missed."

They'll save a seat a the judge's table for Frank Platt at this year's Pig Fest, the event organizers said.

A mentor, a protector and the life of the party

Malcom Platt's first memory of his brother was after the family moved to Memphis from Baltimore around 1970. Frank Platt would move to Nashville in 1979.

The family had boxes strewn across the curb when a group of kids on bicycles came up to the Platts and began kicking the boxes and trying to run into Malcom Platt.

"Frank charged like a bull. He was 6-years-old. He put them in their place," Malcolm Platt said.

Frank Platt was protective older brother to Malcom Platt, now 67, but he also grew to be a social butterfly, never a stranger to anyone.

"He taught me so much," Malcolm Platt said. "He was my mentor. He was my guardian. He was my inspiration."

He taught his younger brother how to fish and got him involved in the telecommunications industry, where they both made careers.

Frank Platt would enjoy a successful career as an IT consultant in Nashville.

Malcolm Platt said his brother was a mainstay in the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, and always the life of the party with friends. He always believed in his fellow man.

He said his brother was at the center of evenings out with friends visiting restaurants and large gatherings, much like when he was cooking barbecue.

Malcolm Platt said he thinks his brother's love for barbecue was more about getting to spend time with friends than the food itself.

The brothers clashed over Frank Platt's love for people. Malcolm Platt said he warned his brother that something could happen to him if he trusted people too much.

"He was, for my taste, too optimistic about things. He had a lot of faith in humanity," Malcolm Platt said.

No suspects have been named by Memphis Police Department in connection with Frank Platt's death. Anyone with tips is asked to call 528-CASH.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville man Frank Platt dies in Memphis shooting: What we know