Capers G. Barr, ’34

Capers Gamewell Barr, Jr., a retired Navy captain and former general manager of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, died at his home in Mount Pleasant on Monday. He was 90. Captain Barr served as General Manager of the Ports Authority from September 26, 1961 until his retirement on December 31, 1971. A History of the South Carolina State Ports Authority describes Captain Barr s administration as a decade of major growth which included the modernization of many of the existing facilities, the first major change in shipping methods in hundreds of years. Barr helped build cargo tonnage from just under one million tons to over two million, and for his overall contributions to world trade in South Carolina, Barr was named South Carolina World Trade Man of the Year in 1970 by the Propeller Club, Port of Charleston. Captain Barr was born in Georgetown, SC on November 15, 1912, the eldest son of Capers Gamewell Barr and Ruth Brinkley Barr. He graduated from The Citadel in 1934 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and attended one year of law school at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Captain Barr s military career began with his entry to active military duty on July 24, 1940 as an ensign in the United States Navy. His military career spanned 21 years. He was a graduate of the Naval War College (1950) and the National War College (1959). During his Navy career, Captain Barr s command assignments included the USS Sarsfield (DD837) in Key West, Florida (1951-1953), Destroyer Escort Squadron 10 in Newport, RI (1956-1958) and the USS Everglades (AD24), a destroyer tender home ported in Charleston (1961). Following his retirement from the Navy, Captain Barr was appointed on September 26, 1961 as General Manager of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. State Ports Authority records described Captain Barr as an industrious, intelligent man of fine judgment who was a meticulous planner, warm and a considerate leader of men. Captain Barr served the State Ports Authority for ten years, retiring on December 31, 1971. He is survived by his wife, Lucy Siau Barr, of Mt. Pleasant, SC; three sons and daughters-in-law: Capers G. Barr, III and Ellen N. Barr of Charleston; William S. Barr and Suzanne N. Barr of Mt Pleasant; and Thomas H. Barr and Carol B. Barr of Georgetown, SC; one sister, Elizabeth B. Capehart of Charleston; eight grandchildren: Capers G. Barr, IV and his wife Jodi, Adam E. Barr and his wife Kirsten, William Siau Barr, Jr., Brooke W. Barr, Katherine B. Leopold, Lucy Virginia Barr, Michael R. McLaurin and Kathryn B. Flowers ; four great-grandchildren: Capers G. Barr, V, Benjamin Cannon Barr, Edward Penn Barr and Harriett V. Barr. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in Summerall Chapel, The Citadel. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 29, 2003 in Elmwood Cemetery, Georgetown, SC. Friends may call at J. HENRY STUHR MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL on Tuesday, October 28, 2003, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.

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