# Chuck Barnes > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chuck_Barnes > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chuck_Barnes.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Barnes > Source revision: 1292180753 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Akron%2C_Ohio), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and given age|1979|5|28|48}} | death_place = near [Three Rivers, California](/source/Three_Rivers%2C_California), U.S. | resting_place = [Holy Cross Cemetery](/source/Holy_Cross_Cemetery%2C_Culver_City) | other_names = | alma_mater = [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts)) | 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](/source/Akron%2C_Ohio).{{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](/source/The_Indianapolis_Star) |page=25 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}} 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](/source/University_of_Southern_California) in 1953 with a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts).{{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](/source/Los_Angeles_Times) |page=4 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}}{{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](/source/Newspapers.com) |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}} ==Career== After graduating, Barnes was a public information officer with the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) for two years. He attained the rank of first lieutenant. He then worked as a salesman for [Texaco](/source/Texaco) for two years. He worked in the public relations department for [Firestone Tire and Rubber Company](/source/Firestone_Tire_and_Rubber_Company) in Akron and [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). He worked there for six years and was manager when he left in 1963. In the early 1960s, Barnes moved to [Indianapolis](/source/Indianapolis). He founded Sports Headliners in December 1963 and took on the role of manager. His clients were racers [Rodger Ward](/source/Rodger_Ward), [A. J. Foyt](/source/A._J._Foyt), [Parnelli Jones](/source/Parnelli_Jones), [Mario Andretti](/source/Mario_Andretti), and [Al](/source/Al_Unser) and [Bobby Unser](/source/Bobby_Unser). He later had clients in other sports, including [O. J. Simpson](/source/O._J._Simpson), [Pat Haden](/source/Pat_Haden), [Johnny Unitas](/source/Johnny_Unitas), [Evel Knievel](/source/Evel_Knievel) and [Calvin Hill](/source/Calvin_Hill).{{citation needed |date=November 2024 |reason=Calvin Hill uncited}} He negotiated O. J. Simpson's contract with the [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills), which at its time was the largest contract for a professional football player, at over {{USD|300000}} a year. Barnes helped form the [American Basketball Association](/source/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](/source/Indiana_Pacers) joined the league. In 1970, he moved his headquarters to Los Angeles. He was a member of the group that built the [Ontario Motor Speedway](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway). He served as the speedway's president for a time. Barnes briefly served as president, then commissioner of the [World Football League](/source/World_Football_League).{{citation needed |date=November 2024}} ==Personal life== Barnes had two daughters, Lisa and Carla. Barnes died while swimming in the [Kaweah River](/source/Kaweah_River) near [Three Rivers, California](/source/Three_Rivers%2C_California), on May 28, 1979, aged 48. He was buried in [Holy Cross Cemetery](/source/Holy_Cross_Cemetery%2C_Culver_City) in [Inglewood](/source/Inglewood%2C_California).{{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](/source/Newspapers.com) |access-date=2024-11-09}}{{Open access}} ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chuck Barnes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Barnes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Barnes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.