This Is A Story About A Spy — Who Worked For Coca-Cola

This is a story about a spy  — a very specific spy — who worked for Coca-Cola.

When Mel Stowers worked for Coke back in the 1970s his official title was a ‘trade examiner’.  His job was to make sure Coke’s trademark wasn’t infringed upon.  And as he tells his son Ben Stowers he did this by making sure that – while posing as a customer – when he asked a for a COKE, he got one.

Today’s story was produced by Stephen Key and recorded in partnership with the Atlanta History Center which hosts the StoryCorps booth. To learn more about recording a friend or loved one in the recording booth visit WABE.org/StoryCorps.