Since 1989, Dave Thomas , who died at age 69 ,was one of the most recognizable faces on TV . He appeared in more than 800 commercials for the hamburger chain named for his daughter ,"As long as it works ," he said in 1991 , "I'll continue to do those commercials ." 

Even though he was successful, Thomas remained troubled by his childhood. "He still won't let anyone see his feet ,which are out of shape because he never had proper-fitting shoes ," Wendy said in 1993. Born to a single mother , he was adopted as a baby by Rex and Auleva Thomas of Kalamazoo in Michigan . After Auleva died when he was 5, Thomas spent years on the road as Rex traveled around seeking construction work ."He fed me ,"Thomas said ,"and if I got out of line , he'd beat me ." 

Moving out on his own at 15 ,Thomas worked , first as a waiter ,in many restaurants .But he had something much better in mind ."I thought if I owned a restaurant ,"he said ,"I could eat for free." A 1956 meeting with Harland Sanders led Thomas to a career as the manager of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant that made him a millionaire in 1968. 

In 1969, after breaking with Sanders, Thomas started the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers , in Columbus ,Ohio ,which set itself apart by serving made-to -order burgers .With 6,000 restaurants worldwide ,the chair now makes $ 6 billion a year in sales . 

Although troubled by his own experience with adoption ,Thomas , married since 1954 to Lorraine ,66 ,and with four grown kids besides Wendy ,felt it could offer a future for other children . He started the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 1992. 

In 1993, Thomas ,who had left school at 15, graduated from Coconut Greek High School in Florida . He even took Lorraine to the graduation dance party .The kids voted him Most Likely to Succeed . 

"The Dave you saw on TV was the real Dave," says friends Pat Williams ."He wasn't a great actor or a great speaker. _ "
Who opened the firsts Wendy's?
Where was it opened?
How many are there now?
How much do they make in sales?
How old was he when he died?
How man commercials did he do?
What did he say in 1991?
What didn't he want people to see?
What was wrong with them?
Was he adopted?
By whom?
Where were they from?
When did his mom die?
Was his dad abusive?
Who old was Thomas when he moved out/
What kind of work did his dad do?
What was Thomas' first job?
Who did he meet in 1956?
What restaurant is Sanders affiliated with?
Did Thomas ever marry?
Thomas
Thomas started the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
in Columbus ,Ohio
started the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers , in Columbus ,Ohio
6,000
With 6,000 restaurants worldwide
$ 6 billion a year
the chair now makes $ 6 billion a year in sales . 
69
Dave Thomas , who died at age 69
more than 800 commercials
 He appeared in more than 800 commercials for the hamburger chain
"As long as it works"
"As long as it works ," he said in 1991
his feet
He still won't let anyone see his feet
they are out of shape because he never had proper-fitting shoes
which are out of shape because he never had proper-fitting shoes
Yes
Born to a single mother , he was adopted as a baby
Rex and Auleva Thomas
Born to a single mother , he was adopted as a baby by Rex and Auleva Thomas of Kalamazoo in Michigan
Kalamazoo in Michigan
Kalamazoo in Michigan
Five
After Auleva died when he was 5,
yes
He fed me ,"Thomas said ,"and if I got out of line , he'd beat me 
15
Moving out on his own at 15
construction work
Rex traveled around seeking construction work
a waiter
Thomas worked , first as a waiter ,in many restaurants
Harland Sanders
A 1956 meeting with Harland Sanders
Kentucky Fried Chicken
A 1956 meeting with Harland Sanders led Thomas to a career as the manager of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant that made him a millionaire in 1968.
Yes
Thomas , married since 1954 to Lorraine