Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company

  • A wooden crate, from the Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which reads, “Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Memphis, Texas.” Photos Courtesy of the Collection of John R. Ballew
    A wooden crate, from the Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which reads, “Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Memphis, Texas.” Photos Courtesy of the Collection of John R. Ballew
  • Four different styles of Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company bottles.
    Four different styles of Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company bottles.
  • BALLEW JOHN R.
    BALLEW JOHN R.
  • A Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company bottle reads, “Memphis, Tex.”
    A Memphis Coca-Cola Bottling Company bottle reads, “Memphis, Tex.”
  • AMemphisCoca-ColaBottling Company advertisement, which was ran in “The Memphis Democrat.”
    AMemphisCoca-ColaBottling Company advertisement, which was ran in “The Memphis Democrat.”

    A Memphis native, John R. Ballew taught history for 25 years in the trenches of the Texas public school system. He is a triple master: a Master of Science from Texas A&M Universi ty-Corpus Christi, a master plumber from Texas and a master mason. He and his wife have been a couple since they were 11 years old and have six grandchildren.

    Ballew’s Facebook group, “The Memphis on TNE Red,” has over…