Baska, Former CEO of AWG, Dies at 83

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Funeral services are scheduled here Friday for James Baska, former president and chief executive officer of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kan., who died Tuesday at the age of 83 following an extended illness.

Baska ran AWG from 1984 through 1991. During his tenure the company introduced two of its proprietary private-label brands, Best Choice and Always Save, and developed the deli, bakery and satellite communications departments.

Baska was a member of the board of Raley's Supermarkets, West Sacramento, Calif. He was a onetime director of the National Grocers Association and served as its chairman in 1987-1988. In 1991 he received NGA's Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award for his dedication to the grocery industry.

He is survived by his wife Nita and an unspecified number of children and grandchildren.