Stewart Owens, former chairman and CEO atBob Evans Farms, died on Sept. 18 after a battle with gastric esophageal cancer. Owens, 53, was a third generation family member at Owens Foods, Richardson, Texas, when he joined the business as vice president back in 1980. He later became president and chief operating officer in 1984. Owens joined Bob Evans in 1987 when the Columbus, Ohio-based company purchased Owens Country Sausage Inc.
Owens appeared on the March 1999 cover ofRefrigerated & Frozen Foods.