Thomas J. Bata

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Thomas J. Bata (born September 17, 1914), also known as Tomas Bata Jr. and Tomáš Baťa Jr., once ran the Bata Shoe Company.

Bata was born in the Moravian village of Zlín, in what is now the Czech Republic, the son of Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa.

He ran the company for several decades, turning it into one of the world's leading footwear companies, despite it nearly being destroyed during World War II, due to the Nazi invasion of the company's homeland Czechoslovakia.

Thomas has also won many honorary degrees and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian award. He is the Honourary Colonel of the The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment of the Canadian Forces Reserve, and is frequently seen in the field visiting with its troops.

He currently resides in Toronto with his wife Sonja I. Bata, founder of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, where he continues to take an active role in the business, currently run by his son Thomas G. Bata.

[edit] Awards

• 2003- Awarded the Retail Council of Canada's Lifetime Achievement Award