Dave Thomas, 69, a business executive and philanthropist, died on January 8th, 2002. A true entrepreneur and innovator, Dave was the founder and CEO of the Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain. During his tenure, Wendy's became the third largest hamburger chain in America. Dave also served on the board of the National Restaurant Association, as well as writing a bi-monthly column in trade publication 'Nation's Restaurant News.' David was a devoted philanthropist, and his success enabled him to donate generously to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a charity whose main focus is to find loving homes for children in the U.S. Foster care system. He also supported a number of other education and nutrition-focused initiatives. Amongst his many awards and recognitions, Dave was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1993. In addition to his professional and philanthropic accomplishments, Dave was a loving husband and father to his wife Lorraine and their five children. Dave Thomas will forever be remembered as a leader, a visionary, and a passionate humanitarian.