Sam Alman

Sam Alman, III passed away to be with his Lord and his bride on February 25, 2015, surrounded by his family, at the age of 87 in Hazlehurst, MS. He was born May 29, 1927 in Fort Smith, Arkansas and was a lifelong resident of Gulfport.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Beverly Ferrell Alman and a sister, Katherine.
He is survived by his daughter, Candy Alman Price and her husband Roland of Hazlehurst, MS and his son Sam Ferrell Alman and his wife Rose of Gulfport; grandchildren, Ferrell Alman, Jr., Olivia Alman, Ashleigh Price Polancich (Ross), Mary Camille Price Waycaster (Jeffrey), Madeline Price, Clay Price; and 4 great grandchildren, Myers Alman and Ella Grace Polancich, Sam and Russ Waycaster.
He was president and owner of the Seven-Up Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. of Gulfport that was started by his father, Sam Alman, Jr. in 1930. He is past president and member of the Mississippi Bottlers Assoc. He became a coastal icon during the Christmas holidays with his WLOX-TV commercials. With Red Pitalo, together they would tell everyone ""The party never starts until Seven-Up arrives"" and wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. In 1974, he sold the business to Coast Coca Cola Bottling Company.
He owned and operated Barrett Cleaners in Biloxi for years and then worked at Riemann Funeral Homes. In 1992 he returned to the soft drink business, going to work for his friends at Allen Beverages in Gulfport. He worked in customer relations and business development where he was the school liaison for Allen Beverages. He delighted students all across the Coast as a presenter of the Pepsi Student of the Month program.
He attended Gulfport Schools and the Gulf Coast Military Academy. He graduated from the University of Mississippi where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He and his wife were proud supporters of Ole Miss football and were active Coast recruiters during the Coach Vaught years.
He was proud to be an American and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He enlisted in 1944 at the age of 17 and was an aviation radio man and aerial gunner flying in SB2C Helldivers. He was with the U.S. Naval Reserves after WWII and retired as a Lieutenant J.G. in 1965. He was thrilled to be a part of one of the original MS Gulf Coast Honor Flights bringing WWII veterans to Washington D.C.
He was past president of the Gulfport Gridiron Club and a member of the Century Club, the Great Southern Golf Club, and a Board Member of the former Gulf National Bank of Gulfport.
He was King D'Iberville in 1971 and member of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association. For years, he sponsored and enjoyed riding on his Seven Up Bottling Company float in the GCCA Biloxi parade and other Coast parades. He was also proud to be an honorary member of the Biloxi Slavonian Lodge as ""Sam Almanovich"".
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and honorary member of Hazlehurst First Baptist Church and Dr. Randy Hankins' Sunday School class.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to his caretakers who loved him like family at Pinecrest Guest Home in Hazlehurst and to Dr. Randy Hankins and the doctors at Hazlehurst Medical Clinic. Thanks also to those who kept all those cards and letters coming to him while in the nursing home along with updates about Ole Miss.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Trinity United Methodist Church in Gulfport, 5007 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39507, First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, 151 Caldwell Drive, Hazlehurst, MS 39083, or Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, 246 Dolan Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39507.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 11:30 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport with a visitation for family and friends from 10:00 AM until the service. Burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers RD, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.