Did Dave Thomas (Wendy's) kick it?

ravanux

Senior member
Oct 17, 2001
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Dude, me and Dave used to kick it all the time. We was straight up chillin.
Seriously though, I don't think he is dead.
 

Logix

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2001
3,627
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Okay, here we go: :(

Wendy's Founder Dave Thomas Dies

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Dave Thomas, the portly pitchman whose homespun ads built Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers into one of the world's most successful fast-food franchises, has died. He was 69.

Thomas died around midnight at his home in Florida, the company said Tuesday.

The cause of death was not given. Thomas had been undergoing dialysis for a kidney problem since early 2001, and had quadruple heart bypass surgery in December 1996.

Company officials were meeting at Wendy's headquarters in the Columbus suburb of Dublin and planned an announcement later Tuesday morning.

The founder and senior chairman of Wendy's International became a household name when he began pitching his burgers and fries in television commercials in 1989. The smiling Thomas, always wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and red tie, touted the virtues of fast-food in humorous ads, sometimes featuring stars such as bluesman B.B. King and soap opera queen Susan Lucci.

``As long as it works, I'll continue to do the commercials,'' Thomas said in a 1991 interview. ``When it's not working any longer, then I'm history.''
 

SpongeBob

Platinum Member
Jan 16, 2001
2,825
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Wow, this is kinda sad...He seemed like the type of guy who would always be around doing those same types of commercials. :(
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
I met Dave Thomas at the hotel I worked at in 1989-1990. (Yes, I'm that old :p) He was a complete @sshole. He was a typical nasty, stuckup, rich person.

I was working security at a very posh hotel in Manhattan, NYC. Over the several days he was there, I said "good morning" or "hello Mr. Thomas" several times. He would just glare at me. The one time he did speak to me, he said "go get me a bellhop" or words to that effect...in a nasty tone of voice to boot.

It didn't stop me from putting money in his pocket by going to Wendy's. I like the food.

On the flip side, I've met Chuck Norris. Awesome guy! He's about 1/2 my size, but I was scared sh!tless to get within 210 feet of the guy! :Q LOL!

Lessee here....Bill Cosby=@sshole Wynona Judd=@sshole Paula Abdul=Cool as sh!t YES, Aerosmith=Cool as sh!t Tom Hanks=Cool as sh1t

That's all I can remember right now....it's early and that was 11 years ago.
 

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
15,424
2
0


<< 'When it's not working any longer, then I'm history.'' >>


i guess it's not working any longer.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0


<< The cause of death was not given. Thomas had been undergoing dialysis for a kidney problem since early 2001, and had quadruple heart bypass surgery in December 1996. >>



Goes to show what ya get for eating wendy's :D
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
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<< It didn't stop me from putting money in his pocket by going to Wendy's. I like the food. >>



Nasty...
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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Well, I didn't say it was Da Schiznit Best or anything like that...it's ok. Sometimes i get in the mood for one of those Triple Decker Burgers w/all the grease that runs down your wrist/arm! :pEwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww:p
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0


<< Sometimes i get in the mood for one of those Triple Decker Burgers w/all the grease that runs down your wrist/arm! >>



:Q

I used to be a Wendy's fan.. but lately I've found their food to be kind of gross.. I don't know what changed, but I no longer like it... :disgust:
 

tigerwannabe

Golden Member
Apr 11, 2001
1,646
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sad :( dave thomas always seemed like a down-to-earth kinda guy. never met him, though, so i can't say for certain
 

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
8,975
11
81
Regardless of whether he was a jerk or not, I still liked the ads he did.

And Wendy's is my favorite Fast Food Chain, too. May Dave rest in peace. :(
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
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<<

<< The cause of death was not given. Thomas had been undergoing dialysis for a kidney problem since early 2001, and had quadruple heart bypass surgery in December 1996. >>



Goes to show what ya get for eating wendy's :D
>>



Nah KFC is what did him in. He got his start working with the Colonel.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I like wendy's food. Interesting to hear MikeD's take on things. I'm not surprised tom hanks is a nice guy. He seems like he would be.
 

Saltin

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2001
2,175
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What's the point of being rich if you can't boss guys around?;)
When I make my first million Im going into the best steakhouse in town. Here's how it will go down.

ME: **sits down**
Waiter: "Good evening sir...I"
Me: **interrupting waiter** "I'LL HAVE THE STEAK!!"
Waiter: "Very good sir, and how do you want that?"
Me: " I WANT IT DONE!!"

hehe.
 

veryape

Platinum Member
Jun 13, 2000
2,433
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That is sad. I kind of admired the guy for making it like he did. Not to mention that Wendy's has the best burgers in the buisness and their 99cent value meal cannot be beat IMHO. Did he have any children?
 

Saltin

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2001
2,175
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He has a daughter. Guess what her name is?

Hint: the stores are named after her
 

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
8,975
11
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Did he have any children? Sure, he named the restaurant after his daughter, Wendy!

/edit -- D'oh! Saltin beat me to it!
 

burnedout

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,249
2
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Did he have any children?

Yes. In fact one of his son's owns the Austin, Texas chain of resturants.

Big Dave owned about 5 percent of Wendy's International, Inc. He did in fact make it the hard way. Was an orphan, a high school drop-out, former Army cook.

LOL, he had a cameo role in the movie about the Six Million Dollar man 4 years ago.