{{Short description|American businessman (died 1979)}} {{refimprove|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Chuck Barnes | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Charles M. Barnes Jr. | birth_date = | birth_place = Akron, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and given age|1979|5|28|48}} | death_place = near Three Rivers, California, U.S. | resting_place = Holy Cross Cemetery | other_names = | alma_mater = University of Southern California (BA) | occupation = {{hlist|Sports agent|businessman}} | years_active = | employer = | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = | children = 2 | signature = }} '''Charles M. Barnes Jr.''' (died May 28, 1979) was an American sports agent and businessman.
==Early life== Charles M. Barnes Jr. was born in Akron, Ohio.<ref name="obit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-chuck-barnes-dies/158698377/ |title=Chuck Barnes Dies in Accident |date=1979-05-30 |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}}</ref> He was the son of former Dayton Tire & Rubber Company president Pat Barnes and a former P.R. manager for Firestone.{{citation needed |date=November 2024}} He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts.<ref name="obit2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-chuck-barnes-3/158698797/ |title=Chuck Barnes... |date=1979-05-30 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="sportsheadliners">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-vanguard-former-firestone-man-fo/158700189/ |title=Former Firestone Man Forms Athletic Concern |date=1963-12-24 |newspaper=Evening Vanguard |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}}</ref>
==Career== After graduating, Barnes was a public information officer with the United States Air Force for two years. He attained the rank of first lieutenant. He then worked as a salesman for Texaco for two years.<ref name="sportsheadliners"/> He worked in the public relations department for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron and Los Angeles. He worked there for six years and was manager when he left in 1963.<ref name="sportsheadliners"/>
In the early 1960s, Barnes moved to Indianapolis.<ref name="obit"/> He founded Sports Headliners in December 1963 and took on the role of manager.<ref name="sportsheadliners"/> His clients were racers Rodger Ward, A. J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, and Al and Bobby Unser.<ref name="obit"/><ref name="obit2"/> He later had clients in other sports, including O. J. Simpson, Pat Haden, Johnny Unitas, Evel Knievel and Calvin Hill.<ref name="obit"/><ref name="obit2"/>{{citation needed |date=November 2024 |reason=Calvin Hill uncited}} He negotiated O. J. Simpson's contract with the Buffalo Bills, which at its time was the largest contract for a professional football player, at over {{USD|300000}} a year.<ref name="obit"/>
Barnes helped form the American Basketball Association. He was a representative along with E. J. Bannon for the Indianapolis group at the league's charter meeting when the Indiana Pacers joined the league.<ref name="obit"/> In 1970, he moved his headquarters to Los Angeles.<ref name="obit"/> He was a member of the group that built the Ontario Motor Speedway. He served as the speedway's president for a time.<ref name="obit"/> Barnes briefly served as president, then commissioner of the World Football League.{{citation needed |date=November 2024}}
==Personal life== Barnes had two daughters, Lisa and Carla.<ref name="obit"/>
Barnes died while swimming in the Kaweah River near Three Rivers, California, on May 28, 1979, aged 48. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Inglewood.<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-searchers-unable-to-find/158699211/ |title=Searchers Unable to Find 3 Bodies |date=1979-05-30 |newspaper=The Fresno Bee |page=B2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnes, Chuck}} Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:1930s births Category:1979 deaths Category:Businesspeople from Akron, Ohio Category:Businesspeople from Indianapolis Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles Category:Texaco people Category:Tire industry people Category:United States Air Force officers Category:American Basketball Association executives Category:American sports agents Category:Indiana Pacers owners Category:Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Category:20th-century American businesspeople