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Floyd "Sonny" Tillman, founder of the Sonny's BBQ restaurant chain, has passed away at the age of 96.

Tillman opened the first Sonny's BBQ in Gainesville, Florida, in 1968 with his wife, Lucille.

The small barbecue joint grew into a regional chain with 91 locations across eight Southern states.

Tillman was also known as a prominent supporter of the University of Florida and the local community.

Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the passing of the man who guided a small Gainesville barbecue joint into a popular regional restaurant chain with multiple locations in eight Southern States.

Floyd "Sonny" Tillman , who founded Sonny's BBQ in 1968, "passed away peacefully surrounded by family" the evening of Dec. 7, his grandson J.T. Tillman posted Dec. 8 on so

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