BILL HUNTER, US ARMY
BILL
HUNTER WAS
RESPONSIBLE
FOR
LOCATING & REBURIAL
OF
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
DURING WWII
03 JUL 1922 - 05 FEB
1999
Minden Press-Herald, Front Page, Monday,
February 8, 1999
Former Coke President Bill
Hunter dies
Bill Hunter, former chairman of the
board and president of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden,
Inc. died Sunday, Feb. 7 of cancer. He was 75.
Bill was enrolled at LSU when he was
called to serve in World War II. He was stationed in New Guinea and
Luzon of the Philippines. Upon returning home, he became manager,
and soon after, president of the family business.
Working with him were his brothers, Joe
and Ben and his sister, Bess. Nan married Frank Castle and lives in
Sarasota. In 1973 Bill retired, but remained on the board of
directors as chairman.
Bill had two driving interests, baseball
and traveling. He was deeply involved with the Big 8 League. As
business manager and chief scout for players he led the Minden
Redbirds to a Big 8 League pennant in 1957.
His travels took him to all four corners
of the world. Some of his trips saw him crossing Communist Russia
on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, trekking the Himalayas, navigating
the Northwest Passage, making two visits to Antarctica, and many
other trips. His last trip was in September 1998. He flew to
Aqaba, Jordan, boarded a clipper ship and sailed to Thailand.
Bill has requested cremation and no
formal service. He wants to be remembered as a happy traveler and
fortunate to have been able to do so. In keeping with Bill's
wishes, a celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m., Feb. 10 at
the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, 412 Pine Street, Minden,
Louisiana.
After 25 years of traveling, he
collected many artifacts and pictures. Some will be on display at
the open house.
We will remember Bill as he was.
Memorials should be sent to the Larry and Gladys Hunter Scholarship
Fund, P. O. Box 893, Minden, La.