He experimented with soft drink flavors from 1959 to 1962 in the development of mountain Dew.
It was Bill Bridgforth of Tri-City Beverage in Johnson City, Tennessee, was instrumental in creating its final formula.
Two brothers: Barney and Allie Hartman of Knoxville, Tennessee, originated the lime green beverage as a mixer in the late 1940s. Both were the stockholder of the Tip Corporation.
That mixer was redeveloped in 1954 as a soft drink called Mountain Dew. It was only used for their personal entertainment.
By 1961, Jones had acquired all rights to the product and introduced a new Mountain Dew on local stores. He first bottled Mountain Dew in his basement, placing the drink in old Pepsi bottles until he could not keep up with the demand.
This Marion famous product was sold to PepsiCo in 1964. While the town of Marion has been designated as the ‘Home of Mountain Dew’.
William Jones and the invention of Mountain Dew formula
