(Fort Wayne, IN) - The fast-food magnate who started his restaurant career in Fort Wayne has died. Dave Thomas may have come from humble beginnings, but he was known worldwide as a pitchman for his Wendy's restaurants. In the 1950's, the old Hobby House Restaurant gave Dave Thomas his start. When Kentucky Fried Chicken's Colonel Harland Sanders convinced the Hobby House's owner to buy a franchise, he and Thomas became friends. Six years later, Thomas went to Columbus, Ohio to take over four failing KFC restaurants, turned them around, and sold them back to the company...making him a millionaire at age 35. He started a hamburger restaurant there, named after his daughter, who had been born at Parkview. That chain has now grown to four thousand stores. Dave Thomas died of liver cancer. He was 69-years old. (Edited by Nicole Hahn.)
he had the greatest commercials.
he had the greatest commercials.
Dave was cool.
