BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI - William Adolph Barq, a third-generation president of Barq's Inc., maker of the nation's top-selling root beer, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest at his home in Biloxi. <br>
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Funeral services for the 79-year-old Barq are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Nativity BVM Catholic Cathedral in Biloxi. Burial will be in Southern Memorial Park. <br>
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Barq was born in Pascagoula and graduated from Biloxi High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he attended Soule' Business College in New Orleans. Upon completion of his studies, he began working with his father at Barq's. <br>
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In 1962, Mr. Barq became the third generation president in the family soft drink business. <br>
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Barq's root beer was first bottled in 1898 in Biloxi by Barq's grandfather, Edward C. Barq Sr., a sugar chemist by trade. In 1976, John Koerner and John Oudt acquired the company from the Barq family and moved the headquarters to New Orleans while the syrup continued to be made in Biloxi. <br>
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In 1995, the Coca-Cola Co. completed purchase of Barq's Inc. and moved the headquarters to Atlanta. In 2001, Barq's was No. 10 in sales among all soft drink brands, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp. of New York. <br>
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William A. Barq also was the third generation of the Barq family to have served on the board of directors of The People's Bank of Biloxi. He became a director in 1971 and had served as vice chairman from 1975 until his death. His grandfather, Edward Barq Sr., served as director, and his father, Edward Barq Jr., served as chairman of the board. <br>
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Survivors include his wife, Lou Ella Barq of Biloxi; a son; three sisters; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
