Jimmy Graphos, the owner of Jimmy's Hot Dogs in Birmingham who worked with his brothers to spread the Sneaky Pete's Hot Dogs chain, has died.

"He was a life-long hot dog man, so to speak," said his brother, Pete Graphos, founder of Sneaky Pete's. "Jimmy was quite a character. He had a name for everybody. He knew what they ordered. He was hands-on."

Graphos started working for his uncle John Collins at Lyric Hot Dogs after graduating from Phillips High School in 1960 and worked there until about 1973, said his twin brother, Sam Graphos, owner of Sam's Super Samwiches in Homewood.

"Then he joined my brother Pete and I at Sneaky Pete's," Sam said. Sneaky Pete's was founded in 1966.

"My brother Pete started the first one," on University Boulevard at 20th Street, where Lucy's Coffee Shop is now, Sam said. Sam opened the second one in Homewood in 1970. Jimmy joined Sneaky Pete's in 1973. Sneaky Pete's began franchising that year.

"We built it up to 23 and then sold out," Sam said.

Jimmy was the point man for opening new Sneaky Pete's franchise locations, Pete said.

"Jimmy was the guy who opened stores and trained people," Pete said. "He'd teach the people how to do the job and open with them for awhile."

The brothers sold Sneaky Pete's in 1986.

Sam and Jimmy kept their locations, with different names. Jimmy renamed his Jimmy's Hot Dogs and Burgers, 3425 Sixth Ave. South.

Jimmy Graphos was born Nov. 15, 1941. He died on March 15. He was 74.

Jimmy was the first brother in the hot dog business, Sam said. Their father, Ted, also worked at Lyric Hot Dogs and helped Pete open the first Sneaky Pete's, Pete said.

Jimmy's humorous antics were legendary.

"He was a funny guy," Sam said. "He would joke with customers. He brought the business. His personality brought a lot of business. Everybody loved Jimmy. He's always been a prankster, real funny guy. He just liked to cook."

Jimmy was a fixture in the kitchen at the annual Greek Food Festival hosted by the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross.

"We all grew up in that church and we were very active," Pete said. "When we were young, our social life revolved around the church. We all went to Greek school when we were young."

Jimmy also was the pitcher for the cathedral's softball team. He played into his fifties, Pete said.

Visitation will be held tonight at the cathedral from 5 to 7 p.m., with a funeral Friday at 10 a.m.