Texas Ends Death Row Last Meal Tradition After Controversial Order

Texas has ended the tradition of giving death row inmates a last meal after a controversial final order in 2011.

Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was executed in September 2011 for a brutal 1998 murder, requested an enormous final meal.

His order included fried okra, chicken steaks, a cheese omelette with beef and peppers, a triple meat bacon cheeseburger, fajitas, one pound of barbecue, pizza, ice cream, peanut butter fudge, and three root beers.

When the food arrived, Brewer refused to eat any of it. This act was seen as disrespectful and sparked outrage. Texas State Senator John Whitmire called it a “mockery” and pushed to end the last meal practice. Since then, no Texas death row inmate receives a special final meal.

Earlier that year, another inmate, Steven Woods, made what was described as the most elaborate last meal, ordering bacon, fried chicken, a four-meat pizza, bacon hamburgers on French toast, garlic breadsticks, and multiple drinks.

Texas had allowed last meals since 1924, but Brewer’s refusal to eat his final meal brought the tradition to a close.