In 1985 Jack Mills served his first oyster out of a shack on the Arkansas side of Stateline Avenue in Texarkana. This would be the beginning of the local favorite that is “Fat Jack’s Oyster Bar.” Jack hails from Savanna, IL where he shined in high school as a football standout. His talent and love of football would take him to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While at OBU he
secured himself a future hall of fame induction for the multiple receiving records he broke. Jack also developed his love of Cajun food while living on the doorstep of Cajun country. After a stint in the CFL as a wide receiver for the Orlando Panthers, Mills would eventually settle down in the Texarkana area. The only thing people enjoyed more than the food was Jack Mills serving it to them. Jack became a lifelong friend the first time you met him. Jack always cared more about people than anything. His charisma and delicious food turned Fat Jack’s into the Texarkana hot spot that it is today, a place where people from all walks of life come to kick back. Up until his passing in 2015, you could always find Jack, drink in his hand, roaming the restaurant making new friends and catching up with old ones. Fat Jack’s now has locations in Texarkana and Hot Spring’s Arkansas. As his niece, I’m honored to carry on Jack’s legacy by serving his recipes to new friends.
-Jacky (Mills) Jacobs
