SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
MARQUARD WILLIAM A

(Last) (First) (Middle)
3801 OLD GREENWOOD ROAD

(Street)
FORT SMITH AR 72903

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ARKANSAS BEST CORP /DE/ [ ABFS ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/17/2004
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 7,500 A $12.25 7,500 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 7,500 A $11.063 15,000 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 3,000 A $7.625 18,000 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 6,000 A $13.625 24,000 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 4,500 A $24.375 28,500 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 M 1,500 A $24.59 30,000 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 S 1,000 D $29.25 29,000 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 02/17/2004 S 200 D $29.27 28,800 D
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 161,048(1) I by Marquard Family Partnership, LTD
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $12.25 02/17/2004 M 7,500 (2) 01/30/2005 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 7,500 (3) 0 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $11.063 02/17/2004 M 7,500 (4) 01/27/2008 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 7,500 (3) 0 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $7.625 02/17/2004 M 3,000 (5) 01/26/2009 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 3,000 (3) 0 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $13.625 02/17/2004 M 6,000 (6) 04/18/2010 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 6,000 (3) 1,500 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $24.375 02/17/2004 M 4,500 (7) 01/17/2011 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 4,500 (3) 3,000 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $24.59 02/17/2004 M 1,500 (8) 01/21/2013 Common Stock Par Value, $0.01 Per Share 1,500 (3) 6,000 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. In addition to the 141,048 shares that were transferred into the Marquard Family Partnership, LTD on 4/29/2003, 20,000 shares that he owned directly were also transferred into that partnership on the same date, bringing his total in the partnership to 161,048.
2. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/31/96.
3. Field intentionally left blank.
4. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/28/1999.
5. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/27/2000.
6. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 01/01/2001.
7. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/18/2002.
8. The option is exercisable in five (5) annual installments beginning on 1/22/2004.
Remarks:
/s/ William A. Marquard 02/19/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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