Dave Thomas

:This article is about the founder of Wendy's. For the actor, see Dave Thomas (actor).

Related Topics:
Wendy's - Dave Thomas (actor)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rex David "Dave" Thomas (July 2, 1932 – January 8, 2002) was an American businessman and philanthropist. Thomas was the founder and CEO of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, a fast food restaurant chain specializing in hamburgers. He is also known for personally appearing in over 800 commercial advertisements for the chain from 1989 to 2002, more than any other person in television history. He had such presence in these ads that many believed he was a professional actor.

Related Topics:
July 2 - 1932 - January 8 - 2002 - Businessman - Philanthropist - Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers - Fast food restaurant - Hamburger - 1989 - Actor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas started out in business by purchasing four Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, and he was strongly influenced by KFC founder Col. Harland Sanders. He later sold his KFC franchises and opened his first Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. At the time of his death, there were over 6000 Wendy's restaurants operating in North America.

Related Topics:
Kentucky Fried Chicken - Franchises - Col. Harland Sanders - Columbus - Ohio - 1969

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey to a mother he never met. Adopted by a Lebanese family in Michigan as an infant, Thomas was himself a well-known advocate for adoption, founding the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992. Having dropped out of high school at age 15, he finally got his GED in 1993. Thomas died in 2002 at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after a decade-long struggle with liver cancer.

Related Topics:
Atlantic City - New Jersey - Lebanese - Adoption - Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - High school - GED - 1993 - 2002 - Fort Lauderdale - Florida - Liver cancer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~