We lost a great man this morning, January the 8th 2002. Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's passed away from liver cancer at the age of 69.

Tennessee born Thomas grew up on the fast food superhighway, having his first experience working at a restaurant at the pre-pubescent age of 12. While working at a BBQ joint in Indiana, Dave had his life-changing experience. He met the legendary Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, or the hip old guy in the white on the KFC commercials for you youngsters. Dave moved to Columbus, Ohio where he took over four failing KFC's for his boss, who promised him a 45 percent stake in them if he turned them around. Thomas sold the restaurants back to KFC for $1.5 million in 1968, making him a millionaire at 35.

Dave opened the first ever Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburgers in Columbus a year later in the eventful year of 1969. First man on the moon, Woodstock, first Wendy’s. Wendy, for those of you who are dying to know, was Dave's daughters nick name. Her real name was Melinda Lou. Over 6,000 Wendy’s Restaurants cover the world today, and more than 2,000 Wendy’s owned Tim Horton's cover Canada with delicious Dunkin Donuts substitutes.

The general public grew to love Dave starting in 1989 when he started his famous Wendy’s commercials in which he took part of over 800 up until today. Who could forget the introduction of the delicious Spicy Chicken Sandwich in the commercial featuring Dave in a battle of the taste buds, who had the spicier chicken, and who could handle it. Of course, Dave won, and his sandwich was perfect.

Head over to Wendy’s sometime soon, enjoy a Wendy's Single with cheese, mustard, pickles and onion; fries, a bowl of chili, a Frosty and a diet coke. Dave's favorite meal. Kick back and reminisce about the good ol days of Dave Thomas, and be glad the man in the white short-sleeved shirt and red tie started this chain. God speed Dave Thomas.