Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

The World’s Largest BBQ Pit: The TexStar Smoker Rides Again Serving Heroes & Their Families

Stretching 76 feet, over 80,000 pounds and with 24 Smoking Stations, The TexStar Smoker can smoke 8,000 to 12,000 pounds of meat…at the same time!

It is indisputably The World’s Largest BBQ Smoker. 

The TexStar Smoker’s mission is to connect businesses and community members to foster generosity and collaboration, to honor veterans, law enforcement, and first responders and their families and to serve communities during times of need.

During Hurricane Harvey The TexStar Smoker answered this call to duty working with the Red Cross and many others at the NRG Center in Houston and brought together many companies and individuals together, serving over 55,000 people with food, water, supplies and more for over 11 days!

The TexStar Smoker has also teamed with the Salvation Army on several occasions in Galveston to feed veterans, first responders and the homeless in their hour of need.

The immense size of The TexStar Smoker creates massive awareness for these heroes and the companies and organizations that support them: Television stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines and influencers — even USA Today — have shared with millions of readers and viewers how The World’s Largest BBQ Smoker is serving so many, and highlighted the many sponsors who continue to make it possible.

Out of this rich tradition and history The TexStar Smoker is answering an even broader ‘Call To Duty’ to Serve America… to support our Veterans and First Responders, Non-Profit Organizations, Community Events and Fundraisers. 

Inviting Others To Join The Mission

The TexStar Smoker was originally built 25 years ago by Tex-Fab in Cypress, Texas, requiring almost 6 months to complete this massive 76 foot long, 80,000 pound pit smoker.

It has always relied on sponsorships to keep it rolling, and for sufficient meat and wood to supply each grill station, as well as normal maintenance.

At 25 years old it needs extensive tender loving care, it needs additional maintenance and upgrades to fully prepare it for its continued mission.  This creates many new service and support opportunities for new sponsors.  Terry Shaffer of Tex-Fab (https://texfab.com/) voiced his support, “Being the original manufacturer, we are excited to be considered to restore the TexStar Smoker for its upcoming missions.”

Another of the first companies agreeing to provide maintenance support is Triple J Insulation Services, a minority-owned industrial insulation contractor based in Houston, Texas with over 50 years of combined industry experience ranging from petrochemical plants to power facilities. (https://triplejinsulation.com/)

They are providing critical industrial insulation creating a 1200-degree barrier between the firebox and the heat exchange pipe that carries heat from the back of the smoker to each of the 24 individual smoking compartments. 

Owner Juan Paz explains, “This effort is important, and The TexStar Smoker mission so reflects our company’s core values, and our love for our state and country.  It is an honor to be accepted as a sponsor to support such a big “hands-on” mission and I’m excited to work with you to support our veterans, first responders, and non-profits, because it’s important to give back.”

As a national and regional sponsor, ArrowStreamTV, a new national streaming TV network, is providing ads, interviews and featured shows for all sponsors, distributed live and on-demand streaming through Roku, Amazon FireTV, Google/Android TV, Apple TV, YouTube, IOS and Android devices as well as social media. 

Co-Founder Jim Grant, U.S.Army (ret) Vietnam Veteran comes at this sponsorship from a deep service to country perspective.  “This is a patriotic call to action, a continuing way to serve with honor and make a profound difference in thousands of lives.  ArrowStreamTV definitely wants to be identified with invaluable, high-profile projects like this.” 

Co-Founder Emerson Brantley adds, “We recognize the response from the community—from companies offering services and supplies to individuals providing funding support and volunteers—has often been enthusiastic.  That’s why we are also stepping in the gap to field responses and queries for the campaign as well as publicity for each event and our sponsors.”

Other businesses and individuals are encouraged to join this effort, and to help fund the many support needs required, including web design, meat, tires and fuel and more.  Please suggest your sponsorship interests to provide necessary funding, services and volunteers to make this mission possible using the contact info below:

For all media inquiries or for further information for individuals and companies wishing to partner in this mission, or to discuss having The TexStar Smoker bring Texas-sized attention and support for your next fundraising event, please contact Jim Grant  mailto:jim@arrowstreamtv.com or Emerson Brantley at web3@arrowstreamtv.com

or call 904.701.7854

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