(CNN) -- A former death row chef says he will pay for and cook every last meal for condemned inmates himself, after Texas announced it was stopping the tradition. "We should not get rid of the last meal," said Brian Price, an ex-convict who spent a decade in Texas preparing last meals for the condemned. "Justice is going to be served when this person is executed, but can we not show our softer side? Our compassionate side?" Last week's audacious last meal request by killer Russell Brewer was the last straw for some in Texas. Brewer was executed September 21 for his role in the infamous racially motivated 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr.
@highlight
A recent large, uneaten death row meal pushed Texas officials to end the last meal tradition
@highlight
"Can we not show our softer side?" asks Brian Price, a former death row chef
@highlight
He spent 14 years in prison for assault
@highlight
He wrote a book about the nearly 200 meals he cooked for the condemned
Russell Brewer
Brewer
Just for good measure, @placeholder added a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts, a pizza and three root beers.
Texas
Texas
Texas
Texas
"@placeholder has always been coldhearted about these type of things," said Price.
Brian Price
Brian Price
But it seems that Texas will not take @placeholder up on his offer.