Wendy Thomas

Wendy Thomas
Born Melinda Lou Thomas
September 14, 1961 (1961-09-14) (age 50)
Pensacola Beach, FL
Residence Hells Isle, TX
Nationality  United States
Other names Melinda Lou "Wendy" Morse
Citizenship American
Alma mater University of Florida[1]
Known for Namesake of Wendy's hamburger chain
Home town Columbus, Ohio
Spouse (unk) Morse
Gary Floto (until his death)
Parents Dave Thomas

Melinda Lou "Wendy" Morse (nee Thomas, born September 14, 1961) is the daughter and fourth child of American businessman Dave Thomas, the founder of the restaurant Wendy's. Morse is best known for being the namesake and mascot of the restaurant.

Contents

Life

Early life

Melinda Lou Thomas was born on September 14, 1961, in the United States of America, the fourth child of Dave Thomas.

Importance to Wendy's

Main article: Wendy's

As a child Morse was unable to pronounce the L in her name Melinda and so she became known by her nickname Wenda (with the pen-pin merger). Then 8-year old Wenda would eventually become the namesake behind the name of her father's restaurant Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, or just "Wendy's" for short.[2] In addition to being the namesake, her likeness was used as Wendy's logo in the form of a young girl with red braids.[3][4]

Later life

As an adult, Morse owned several Wendy's restaurants near Dallas, Texas until 1999.[5] After the death of her father Dave Thomas in 2002, Morse and her siblings bought restaurants in the Columbus, Ohio area. As of September 2010, Morse herself owned or co-owned more than 30 Wendy's stores.[6] In November 2010, she began appearing in Wendy's ads on camera for the first time.[7][8] (Her voice was featured in a 1989 ad giving her father advice from off-camera.)[2] The 2010 ads aired first in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mobile, Alabama, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, test markets before being rolled out nationally.[9]

Morse currently serves on the board of trustees of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Kirkland, Gary (April 30, 2007). "Fast food Gator: Wendy Thomas is proud of her UF connection". Gainesville Sun. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20070430/MAGAZINE19/70430010/. Retrieved October 9, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "After 20 Years of Fame, Wendy Thomas Still Relishes Being on a Roll". People. January 15, 1990. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20116543,00.html. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  3. ^ "The family way figures big in commercial campaigns". The Milwaukee Journal. Los Angeles Times News Service: pp. 1D, 6D. September 24, 1989. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sWkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YCwEAAAAIBAJ&dq=wendy-thomas&pg=2423%2C251689. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  4. ^ "Dave Thomas: Made to Order". Biography on CNBC. CNBC. December 8, 1998. Re-run on January 31, 2010.
  5. ^ Englert, Gianna. "Woman on Top: Melinda Lou 'Wendy' Thomas". Capitalist Chicks. http://www.capitalistchicks.com/?q=node/240. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  6. ^ Lukovitz, Karlene (November 9, 2010). "Grown-Up Wendy Stars In Wendy's TV Spots". Marketing Daily. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=139226. Retrieved November 13, 2010. 
  7. ^ Kiefaber, David (November 12, 2010). "Wendy Thomas starring in first Wendy's ads". Adweek. http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/wendy-thomas-starring-first-wendys-ads-11947. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  8. ^ Finnegan, Amanda (November 5, 2010). "Las Vegas to serve as test market for Wendy’s burger line; Ad campaign next week will feature daughter of founder Dave Thomas". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/05/las-vegas-serve-test-market-wendys-burger-line/. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  9. ^ Morrison, Maureen (November 12, 2010). "Real Wendy Takes Star Turn in Wendy's Advertising". Advertising Age. http://adage.com/article/news/real-wendy-takes-star-turn-wendy-s-advertising/147097/. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  10. ^ "UA resident Wendy Thomas joins Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Board of Trustees". City Scene Magazine (Columbus, OH). February 1, 2010. http://www.columbuscityscene.org/ua_resident_wendy_thomas_joins_dave_thomas_foundation_for_adoption_board_of_trus. Retrieved August 6, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Board & Staff". Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. http://davethomasfoundation.org/who-we-are/board-staff/. Retrieved August 6, 2011.