Quick’s Bar-B-Q & Catering Co. celebrates its seventh year in Lawrence today, as well as the life of its founder, who died Tuesday at his home in Linwood.

“I know he’ll be looking down and smiling,” said Ron Quick, who several years ago took over operations of the business from his father, Earl E. Quick. “It’s too bad he couldn’t make it to today, but he’d want everybody having a good time. He’d be very proud.”

Earl Quick, 68, also known as “Big E,” opened a small, three-table barbecue restaurant in 1964 in Kansas City, Kan. The restaurant featured its own sauce, grew and became popular despite competing in an area already well stocked with barbecue restaurants.

Earl Quick had been ill with emphysema and other ailments for about 20 years, Ron Quick said.

“We were a team for so many years,” Ron Quick said. “He was a hard worker.”

Ron Quick opened the Lawrence restaurant in 1995 at 1527 W. Sixth St. Even though he had left operations of both restaurants to his son, Earl Quick periodically came to Lawrence to visit.

“He would come by and hang out and talk to the customers during the first few years we were open,” said restaurant manager Steve Courtney. “He was a real nice guy.”

Earl Quick got his start in the restaurant business Rosedale Barbecue, another popular Kansas City, Kan., establishment. He worked there for 15 years before striking out on his own. He opened his own barbecue restaurant in the Armourdale neighborhood.

The restaurants will not close Thursday, when services for Earl Quick are scheduled, Ron Quick said.

“He’s the type of person who would just as soon have us be open” Ron Quick said.