The Rochester Sentinel 1996 - Fulton County Public Library

know one person with the name Knauff.” He came to our office and someone told me there was a
guy from Rochester who knew me. It was Barry. He bought a house from me. Also redid a 300room
hoitel for him He helped me a lot.”
“We’ve always stayed in touch,” Knauff added. “I was back in Rochester in 1994 when
Barry was back for his football team reunion and to help kick off the (Rochester) Pathway
(between Lake Manitou and Mill Creek Golf Course).”
Conrad was part of a 32--person team headed by Brown. The group was exploring ways
to rebuild Croatia’s war-torn economy and expand trade to the region. Conrad’s company,
Barrington Group, manages hotels in Croatia and Austria.
His friends were not surprised he joined in on such a venture.
“That is the kind of thing Barry would do, helping to build economics,” said Conrad’s
former classmate and friend, Sandy SAWYER. “He logged so many air miles. As president of
Burger King he opened restaurants all over the world. He had an uncanny ability to look at
properties and know which ones to buy.
“We didn’t get the chance to see him very often, but we stayed buddies,” Sawyer said.
“He’d call every once in awhile. We enjoyed talking.”
Former Rochester mayor Ed FANSLER said success didn’t spoil Conrad.
“He came here to help us kick off our Pathway project (in 1993), which was a big help to
me,” Fansler said. “He and Tom ROSE, president of Dean Foods came back for that. He traveled
all the time. It wasn’t easy getting a time where he and Tom could be back here at the same time.
It was nice of them to come back to Rochester.
Local businessman Phil DAULTON recalls Conrad’s most recent visit to Rochester.
“Barry was a big influence on my son (Ben). Ben was going to college and Barry talked
to me about talking him into going into hotel management at Purdue.”
Knauff said Conrad had a love for Rochester and the people he grew up with.
“We talked about it. We both felt we were lucky to have grown up in Rochester and to
still know all the people there,” Knauff said.
Barry Conrad attended Rochesrter High School from 1954-58.
At RHS Conrad was the sports editor of the Manitou Ripples yearbook, a member of the
art and glee clubs, choir, and thespians. He lettered in basketball, football, track and tennis.
Conrad earned a busines administration and hotel management degree at the University
of Maryland and completed graduate studies in hotel management at Cornell University.
Conrad began his management career in 1967 as vice president and general manager of
the Sonesta Hotel chain.
From 1974-80, he was executive vice president of hotel operations for Horizon Corp. He
then became director of operations of the 2,200-room Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
In 1982, Conrad was named president and CEO for Quality Inns Inc. In 1986, he was
appointed president and CEO for Trusthouse Forte Hotels Inc., operating 600 hotels in North and
South America.
Conrad joined Burger King Corp in March, 1991. As president of the franchise division,
he was responsible for more thn 4,500 domestic franchised restaurants.
In 1994, Conrad left Burger King Corp. to head Barrington Group., a hotel management
company. Barrington Group managed luxury hotels world-wide, including establishments in
Croatia and Austria.
Conrad and hiw wife Pat, had three children, Nicole MAXWELL, Natalie and Brant
[CONRAD]. He had two grandchildren.
Conrad’s mother, Bernice AULT, resides in Nyona Lake.
Barry Conrad’s mother, Bee AULT, said today she is proud of the life and legacy Conrad