For generations of students and alumni, the nationally recognized Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q has been part of the Oneonta experience. The Brooks family is ensuring that tradition continues—not just at the dinner table, but in the classroom and far beyond.
John and Joan Brooks, who owned Brooks’ restaurant for three decades, have made a $100,000 gift to support scholarships for SUNY Oneonta students majoring in Food Service and Restaurant Administration.
Last week, in recognition of their longstanding generosity and deep ties to the institution, SUNY Oneonta named the commercial kitchen in its Human Ecology Building “The Brooks Family Commercial Kitchen” in the family’s honor, unveiling a special plaque that John Brooks called “humbling” and “very, very special.”
The Brooks’ endowed gift aims to support student success by reducing financial stress, letting them focus on coursework, experiential learning and preparation for careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry, which isn’t always easy, as the Brooks family can attest.
We’re pleased to be a part of this great community, and it makes us feel good to help strengthen the university."
“Our business has grown along with the university,” John Brooks said. “We’re pleased to be a part of this great community, and it makes us feel good to help strengthen the university. … It makes us feel good to give back and help deserving students. SUNY Oneonta has been good to us, and we're very grateful."
The family’s legacy began in 1912 with a small poultry farm in Stamford, NY. Since opening Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q in Oneonta in 1961, the business has expanded into a full-scale catering operation, Brooks’ Roost Banquet Room, Brooks’ Bottling Co., and most recently, Kitchen Creative for Foodservice, a clean-label line of sauces, marinades and condiments. The restaurant received the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics Award in 2016 and has been featured on national television, including the Food Network’s $40 a Day. It is now owned by John and Joan’s son Ryan and daughter-in-law Beth, a SUNY Oneonta alumna.
The Brooks are passionate about education, workforce preparation and the greater Oneonta community. For more than a decade, John Brooks served on the SUNY Oneonta Foundation Board of Directors, including as vice president and chair of the Advancement Committee. They are members of the 1889 Society and have supported the Unrestricted Endowment, the Alumni Field House Endowment, and the SUNY Oneonta Student Athlete Travel Fund, as well as the annual Red Dragon Open fundraiser and Alumni Weekend Golf Tournament.
In 2002, they created the John and Joan Brooks Scholarship for Food Service and Restaurant Administration. The scholarship, which supports four students annually, is awarded to undergraduate students majoring in food service and restaurant administration who demonstrate financial need. Since its creation, more than $89,000 has been awarded.
The Brooks’ latest gift is “an investment in SUNY Oneonta students and the greater Oneonta community,” according to Vice President for University Advancement Paul Adamo, who said he is “honored to work with the family to strengthen SUNY Oneonta and our community.”
The Brooks scholarship has meant so much to me,"
“The Brooks scholarship has meant so much to me,” said senior recipient Emily Cruz. “It has allowed me to focus more on my classes, work and practicum experiences instead of worrying about how to balance school and extra work hours. It has opened doors for me to grow academically and gain real-world skills that align with my career goal of working in large-scale food operations and event management. And it has inspired me to pursue excellence in the food service industry.”