Dave Thomas was a modest, unassuming, ordinary-looking fellow who, after working in a Tennessee barbecue restaurant when he was a boy, decided to make his living in the restaurant business.
And did he ever! After working for Arthur Treacher's and for Harland Sanders of fried chicken fame, and after owning three KFC franchises of his own, Thomas started his own restaurant, Wendy's, in Columbus, Ohio. The restaurant was named for his daughter.
By the time of Thomas' death from cancer in 2002, the Wendy's International chain had roughly 6,000 restaurants.
Thomas might be remembered simply for having been a great American success story in business, but the way most of us will always picture him is as the Wendy's fry cook in the company's TV commercials and print ads. Somehow, America just liked him. He is said to have appeared in roughly 800 Wendy's commercials, starting in 1989 and ending not long before his death.
Sir, due respect, somehow you insinuate his "fame" a fluke of some sort. He is still a house hold name (not to mention kick ass). He doesn't belong in your blog.
ReplyDeleteSteve, thanks for your message. It made me stop and think. Also, I went back into the intro to this blog, in which I was not entirely clear. I made a change because of your heads-up.
ReplyDeleteI meant absolutely no disrespect for Dave Thomas and what he accomplished as founder of the Wendy's chain. I included him, on the other hand, because his public celebrity came not from his business acumen, but from his success as TV commercial front man for his own company. That one role has made him an icon.
Some of the individuals appearing in my blog are not really so much "temporary" but are people known (as celebrities) for one great thing.
Anyhow, thanks.