Synopsis

Hecky Powell was never afraid to stand alone. He rarely hesitated to open his mouth and express his opinion, even when he knew what he had to say wouldn’t be received well. As a young man growing up in Evanston, this tendency caused him a great deal of trouble. But, as he got older, learning from his missteps, he channeled the courage of his convictions into building an iconic Evanston business, the beloved Hecky’s Barbecue, then using that success as a springboard to have a wide-ranging impact on his community. Seemingly everyone in Evanston has a “Hecky story” - one of unbridled kindness and support.

In the spring of 2020, Hecky was the literal poster child for the town’s PR campaign urging residents to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Then, improbably, Hecky was diagnosed with Covid-19. He passed away a few days later.

Hecky’s legacy looms large in the Chicago area, as someone who used his business success to help others, and whose generosity of spirit reached celebrities, athletes, politicians and countless young people over the decades. His mission of teaching the youth of Evanston- particularly young black youth, who he felt were sometimes overlooked and underserved- was rooted in his personal history.

Hecky’s great-grandfather was a slave who escaped from Missouri, fled to Iowa, then eventually settled in Evanston. His grandfather and father found ways around redlining to raise their families and ply their professional trades. And then there was Hecky’s own experiences as a young man whose destiny seemed pointed towards a street corner or prison cell.

If a Town Had a King is a story about civic engagement as well as channeling failure, disappointment and anger into becoming a force for hope for Evanston and beyond.