Anthony “Tony” Howard Barnes, 89, former president of Cobb-Vantress, died November 19, 2022.
Barnes was born January 23, 1933, in North London, England, to Lillian Howard and Reginald Barnes. He attended Naval Training College.
After marrying and starting a family, Barnes took a job vending chicken feed and developed it into a career selling chickens that carried him all over the globe. He settled in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where he became president of Cobb-Vantress. As the company’s president from 1983 to 1996, he brought the Cobb500 broiler breeder from the U.K. to the United States. He also stewarded the company’s move from its original home in Concord, Massachusetts, to northwest Arkansas in 1986. He helped oversee the acquisition of Cobb-Vantress by Tyson Foods in 1994. He retired from Cobb in 1996.
Barnes enjoyed playing golf, taking cruises, socializing with friends, watching detective shows, serving his community, and taking long drives in his classic British cars.
He is survived by one daughter, Sally (Darin) Carothers; one son Mark (Eileen) Barnes; seven grandchildren, Chelsey (Bobby) Schneider, Devin (Jenna) Carothers, Luke (Megan) Carothers, Liam (Maisie) Carothers, Bryant (Charli) Barnes, Kate Barnes, Tim (Madison) Barnes; and two great-grandchildren, Emma Rose and Isaac Howard Barnes.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Sharpe Barnes, and his second wife, Bep Morrison Barnes.
A service of remembrance was held November 28. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Siloam Springs Boys & Girls Club.
