From serving barbecue to his dormmates at Trinity Valley Community College to soon opening his own food truck in Hillsboro, Kan., Trey King’s (SR, Houston, Texas) culinary dream continues to take shape.
Football was the ‘head chef’ of King’s future before college. As his love for food continued to grow, he found a home at Tabor College to learn to run a business as a student and to position himself to enter the market as a food truck owner and future restaurateur.
King quickly connected with former teammate Nathaniel Heilig (g’25) when he arrived on campus. Heilig co-ran an on-campus business, Gainz Central, with protein bowls as a meal alternative.
He then got a job at Wendy’s, and after saving almost every paycheck, King purchased his smoker and TKingzBBQ began to take off.
Desiring to later open a restaurant, he also connected with Dino Diaz, the food service director on campus. He obtained access to Courtside Grill in the Student Center and began serving his home-cooked barbecue and sides to the community on Sunday afternoons.
With menus that span the globe, King said his food tastes come from his Houston roots. Along with access to fresh seafood, Houston’s west side has authentic Chinese cuisine, the north side has Cajun flair and downtown has traditional Italian dishes.
“When I started cooking in junior college, my teammates would tell me they had a really bad week, but they were sticking around because of my cooking,” King said. “My grandma has passed away, but she’s my inspiration for dishes like my etouffee. It brings back memories for me and opens new doors for people.”
A detailed business plan took off under the guidance of Tabor professors and includes the hope of one day having brick-and-mortar locations. King is advised by Jeremy Ensey, assistant professor of business. Ensey and his wife, Tammy, have entrepreneurial roots, including owning the Historic Elgin Hotel in Marion, Kan.
“Every day in class, I learn something new,” King said. “I’m seeing how much I need a team around me to help me grow in areas like marketing.”
Having last played for the Bluejays in 2024, King has attributed his initial success in business to his time on the gridiron. During his final season at Tabor, he played in five games and tallied nine tackles.
“Football broke me down, rebuilt me and strengthened me for this journey,” he said. “As an 18-year-old, I was childish. I’m glad that all of the mistakes I’ve made have built me to do this.”
More importantly, it was at Tabor that King made his faith his own and devoted his life to Jesus. Recalling moments as a child when he’d be rushed out the door to church, King said it was more of going through the motions than dedicating his heart to God.
“I wasn’t connected to God, but my parents were,” he said. “In coming here, I was reaching out for that relationship with Him and it has been so much better for me.”