S. Truett Cathy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Truett Cathy (born March 14, 1921 in Eatonton, Georgia) is the founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant chain based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.
Cathy began the chain in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, Georgia in 1946 with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, named for its small size. It was there that he, along with his brother and partner, Ben, created the sandwich that later became the signature menu item for Chick-fil-A. The original restaurant, since renamed Dwarf House, is still in operation, and the company operates other Dwarf House locations in the metro Atlanta area.
Cathy is a devout Baptist who has taught Sunday School for over 44 years. As an extension of his convictions, all of the company's locations (whether company-owned or franchised), are closed on Sundays — a rare policy within the food-service industry -- to allow its employees to attend church and spend time with their families.[1] He is also a philanthropist, having given to numerous charitable causes, many with evangelical ties. Cathy is also closely involved with the sponsorship of the college football bowl game now known as the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but from 1997-2005 known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and prior to that simply the Peach Bowl. On October 28 2006 he received what would have been the last Ford Taurus sedan ever made had it not been for word of the Taurus' reintroduction for 2008.
He has written three books: the autobiography Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, a motivational book entitled It's Easier to Succeed Than To Fail, and the parenting book It's Easier to Build Boys than Mend Men. He also contributed to the anthology Conversations on Success and co-wrote with Ken Blanchard Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure. There is a portion of Jonesboro Rd and McDonough Rd in Henry County, GA and Clayton County Ga named in his honor.
He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.[1]
