In 1939, Yowell borrowed $5,000 from E.P. Mead at Abilene and migrated to El Paso. Yowell opened a Barq ' s Bottling Company franchise in 1939 and introduce Barq’s beverages to the area.
Barq's is an American soft drink and is notable for having caffeine. Barq's was created by Edward Barq and bottled since the beginning of the 20th century.
John W. Yowell was a man of courage. He demonstrated his fortitude by starting the Barq’s Bottling Co. at the beginning of World War II and showed his tenacity by surviving the sugar shortage caused by the conflict.
An outgrowth of the Trone Bottling Co., the Dr Pepper Bottling Co. picked up the noted soft drink that was first bottled in El Paso by the Empire Products Corp. In 1957, the Yowells bought the Dr Pepper franchise, changing the name to Barq’s Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
John Yowell had a stroke in 1960 that left him partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. He died in 1967, leaving his wife, Marion, and son, Joe, to run the operation. In 1977, the company discontinued Barq’s products and finally sold to Magnolia Coca-Cola Co. in 1980.
John W. Yowell (Barq bottling)
