MUNCIE, Ind. — Travis Shroyer remembers the nerves when he first brought his hot dog cart, Speedy Dogs, to the Ball State Village about five years ago.

He approached the sidewalk on his first night to greet the hungry, late-night students when he came across another hot dog cart, this one owned by Mark Carter.

"I told him, 'I’m sorry, I didn’t know I was this close to you. I’m going to leave," Shroyer said.

"He insisted I stay."

That night, Shroyer said he probably sold 10 hot dogs, compared to around 300 for Carter’s (Nearly) World Famous Hot Dogs. It was then Shroyer really understood just how much of an impact Carter had on those Ball State students.

It wasn’t just about the food. He developed a following because of so much more.

Carter's impact is evident this week as the community mourns his passing. "The Hot Dog Man" died Sunday at the age of 58, following a brief illness. It wasn’t long before Facebook was flooded with posts from people who shared their beloved memories.

Mike Wszolek, a 2005 Ball State graduate, recalled playing in a band at the former Dill Street Bar. When his band would head inside to prepare for a show, Carter was setting up his stand. And when they were heading back home for the night, he would be closing down. No matter how long the line was — and it was long most nights — Wszolek said Carter would serve the band first because he knew they were "rockstars" who needed to fuel up quickly.

They all developed a lasting friendship. Wszolek’s band even wrote a song about "The Hot Dog Man." Carter had actually told Wszolek a few months ago that he still listened to the band’s music.

"He was always really just a gentle dude," Wszolek said. "He was just a really calm, live-in-the-moment kind of guy.

"He loved what he did."

Carter, who was a graduate of Delta High School and Ball State University, started his food business in spring of 1994. Back then, he would set up his cart on the Delaware County Building plaza, but maybe more memorably, in the Village. He would keep his cart open until the wee hours of the night so students could grab a quick bite after a night out at the local bars. He told the Star Press in 2012 that sometimes when he would tell the students he had to close The Village, "You’d be surprised at how many look at me and say, 'Really?'"

Along with serving downtown and near the university, Carter’s later venture was opening a shop in the mall. He occupied a space near JC Penney, offering shoppers hot dogs with various toppings, burgers, chicken tenders, soup, chili and more.

His family worked at the business growing up. But his daughter, Molly Carter, said the times she'll remember most aren't those when he was "The Hot Dog Man," but rather, the moments outside of work, like when they would discuss music. She said her father would call her at random points of the day just to talk about a song.

"One time, I called him upset about a job I didn't get," Molly said, "And he told me, 'If you're going to cry, do it over something important, like a sad song.'"

Through his more than 25 years of business, Mark Carter became a local icon. Posts across social media share stories of the conversations people remember having with him, his love for the Cincinnati Reds and how he knew every regular customer's order by heart.

Shroyer still runs his Speedy Dogs business, which has progressed from a cart to a food truck. He said even though Carter had retired, he still had a thirst for more work. Shroyer said Carter called him and asked if there was a position available.

Even if there wasn’t one, there would be one for "The Hot Dog Man."

Now that his mentor is gone, Shroyer keeps his memory alive by using Carter’s "magical" tongs during work. And he’ll continue to do so every day forward to honor his friend.

"We were competitors at first, and we were partners next," Shroyer said. "I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it wasn’t for him."

According to Carter's obituary, funeral services will be at noon on Thursday, May 16, at Meeks Mortuary and Crematory. The burial will follow at Elm Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, at Meeks. Online condolences can be directed to the family at meeksmortuary.com.

Read more tributes to Mark Carter below:

Audrey Kirby is a reporter at the Star Press. Follow her on Twitter @ajanekirby, and email her story ideas: ajkirby@muncie.gannett.com.