Hooters makes good on promise, caters lunch for Benton firefighters

By Jim Muir

What started as a controversy has ended with three “Hooter’s Girls” making a special trip to Benton to cater a hot wing lunch for the city’s firefighters.

Making good on its promise, Hooters catered a lunch Tuesday afternoon at Donna’s Sweetwater Saloon, located east of Benton, for nine city firefighters.

The controversy which led to Tuesday’s lunch, began earlier this month when the Benton City Council denied a request for reimbursement for meals purchased when two firefighters were away at training because two of the receipts submitted were for meals at Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its hot wings and “Hooters Girls.”

Bob Burnett, who serves as public safety commissioner, asked the council to deny the meal reimbursement request because of the two Hooters receipts, totaling about $65. Burnett called the matter for a vote so that the entire council could decide. The reimbursement claim was denied by a 3-2 vote of the council.

In a story that appeared in a local newspaper, Burnett said:

“To each his own and if you want to pay to eat at Hooters on your own dime, that’s one thing but to ask the taxpayers to pay for it is another,” he said. “Respect me and the taxpayers enough not to do that.”

Benton firefighters are pictured with three Hooters’ Girls, following a catered lunch on Tuesday. The meal resulted from a controversy after the Benton city council refused to reimburse two firemen for meals at a Hooters restaurant while they were out of town receiving training.
(Photo provided)

Instead of getting in a war of words with the Benton city council about the decision to deny the bill, Hooters opted to fight back by offering a token of gratitude for Benton’s firefighters and all first responders.

In a statement issued Tuesday night a Hooter’s spokesperson said:

“Hooters loves and appreciates fire fighters and all first responders and that’s where our focus will remain. It was our pleasure to serve the Benton firefighters who work hard every day to protect their local community. As a show of appreciation, first responders receive 10 percent discount at Southern Illinois Hooters locations in uniform.”

Benton firefighters declined to comment about the council decision or the Hooters-catered meal but emphasized that all firemen were on their own time and that the lunch was not sanctioned by the city.

Diana Geiger, a district manager with Hooters will be a guest on WQRL’s “Sound Off” on Wednesday night (September 25) to talk about the decision to honor the Benton firefighters.