Upper Arlington in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Dave Thomas
1932-2002
| | Wendy's founder and philanthropist | |
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 1, 2023
1. Dave Thomas Marker
Dave is best known as chairman and founder of Wendy's International, Inc. As a young boy, he dreamed of owning his own hamburger restaurant, and he realized that dream in 1969 when he opened the first Wendy's restaurant in downtown Columbus. Thanks to his passion, business savvy and creativity, Wendy's quickly grew worldwide, topping more than 6,600 restaurants.
Dave was known as an innovator in the restaurant industry, and is credited with developing the modern-day pick-up window (at the second Wendy's on Henderson road).
In 1989, the company asked Dave to appear in Wendy's commercials, and the soft-spoken founder became an American icon, making more than 800 commercials.
Beyond his business career, Dave was beloved for his exceptional generosity to children's charities, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Columbus Nationwide Children's Hospital, and the Children's Home Society of Florida.
In 1992, he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is dedicated to finding loving, adoptive homes for North America's foster children.
Dave won dozens of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His proudest accomplishment, though, was his family--wife, Lorraine, five children and 17 grandchildren.
Erected by
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.
Location. 40° 1.889′ N, 83° 3.087′ W. Marker is in Upper Arlington, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is on Tremont Road south of Kenny Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the Wall of Honor at the Upper Arlington Municipal Services Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3600 Tremont Rd, Columbus OH 43220, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James Turrell Miller (here, next to this marker); George R. Haddad (here, next to this marker); John C. Elam (here, next to this marker); Stefanie Spielman (here, next to this marker); Cynthia Rarey Dyas (here, next to this marker); Bertha A. Bouroncle, MD (here, next to this marker); Claude S. Perry, MD (here, next to this marker); Mary Egerton Miller (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Upper Arlington.
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 1, 2023
2. Wall of Honor
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 1, 2023
3. Wall of Honor
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2023, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. This page has been viewed 452 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 23, 2023, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
