I was standing in line at a Wendy’s once trying to figure out what to eat and behind me I hear, “get a baked potato and a single, that’s the best.” I turned around and it was Dave Thomas. He was visiting that location that day. Super nice guy. Humble, kind, very genuine.

I was piss poor when I was studying for my MBA, and the Wendy’s $1 menu saved me from starving to death. Thanks, Dave.

Of all the fast food founders, i always found Dave Thomas to be the most down to earth person. He came off as a wholesome old man.

Man, Dave Thomas was such a gem. May his memory be a blessing

Damn. This video actually makes me want to eat at Wendy's. I feel like a truly well-intentioned large company owner is so rare. Seems like a lovely, earnest man

Dave was a classy guy. I operated a GED preparation class back in the late 90's and contacted Dave through Wendy's headquaters in Dublin, Ohio. He sent me an autographed picture of himself that I put up in the classroom along with fellow GEDers Wally (Famous) Amos, Mary Lou Retton and several others. It was inspiring to the students.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s, and yes, Dave Thomas was on TV quite a bit. Hard to believe he's been gone for 20 years now...

I met Dave Thomas at college. He gave a speech. He was really inspiring and friendly.

One of the few successful business owners who always stood their ground, never lost sight of what his heart desired, and what a caring heart he had..

It’s funny. You can definitely tell the difference where for McDonalds, efficiency and profits were the motive for Ray Kroc, where as for Wendy’s quality was the motive for Thomas. You can definitely tell the difference in the effects of that in the products all these years later. Given the choice I’ll pick Wendys every time. It’s just better food.

I really miss Dave Thomas. He was truly wonderful.

I live in Japan. Wendy's are kinda rare here, only at major train stations near me. But it's one of the American foods that I'm always glad to munch on when I get the opportunity.

As someone who's name is David Thomas I can testify this guy is a legend and so are all David Thomas's

I "worked for Dave" for my obligatory "burger flipping job" in highschool in the late 70s. Of the fast food joints, it was better than others. Wendy's hadn't loaded up the menu yet. Single, doubles and triples, one size each of fries, chili, and frosty. The burgers were fresh, working the grill, I had to watch the number of cars coming on the lot to add meat to the grill and drop fries to keep them fresh. The sandwich veggies were fresh, we used name brand condiments and ingredients in the chili and we all actually took pride in making good food. Things are different these days... 🙄

Dave Thomas was a great role model! He grew up during hard times. Now that life is much easier than when he grew up, it’s hard to find anyone to look up to. My most favorite Wendy’s menu item is the Baconator!!!

Dave was such an amazing man. I'm an immigrant in Canada and Wendy's is the only burger restaurant I love eating at. In my country of Nigeria, we don't have a huge burger eating culture but with Wendy's their burgers really taste good and the atmosphere is so welcoming.

It's amazing yet logical how much fast food like all other industry has its origins in the military.

My husband and I preferred other hamburgers, especially the "King of burgers". He called Wendy's burgers "hot & greasy". Here in the west where some big burger chains are pulling back franchises, Wendy's hangs on. It has staying power once it is established. I really like the story and Dave Thomas' life.

I actually had a lot of respect for Dave, (RIP). He built a fast food empire from the ground up. And lets not forget how Wendy's had the best old fayshund hand burgers. One of the best in the bidness.

Man I feel awful for forgetting about Mr Dave Thomas x.x Thank You for such a great story about this man

Ever since a kid I haven't been a fan of Wendy's food, but I can always appreciate a man that's all in on himself

Date Thomas was such an inspiring man. I really like these segments where you describe the lives of inspirational food entrepreneurs like Dave Thomas and the Boyardee family.

Man I always root for Wendy’s so hard and it’s tough to see BK, with inferior food, pulling out ahead. Dave ruled.

Just like Chef Boyardee Dave Thomas's life is an extremely inspirational story I'd love to see a movie about dave as for my favorite Wendy's menu item I'm all about the Baconator

Really enjoyed that one. Love the voice of the narrator. Dave Thomas was a true beacon and inspiration for Wendy’s. Who doesn’t miss his funny commercials?

Dave has a better story than the founder that stole McDonald's. Wendy's has a good cheeseburger. I remember seeing Dave on ads, something about Wendy's showing the creator makes the burgers that much better. Unlike garbage other places.

Fun fact: the location of the original Wendy's in downtown Columbus is now home to Catholic Foundation of Columbus and they tried to make it look "fancy." It looks ridiculous. Also the closest Wendy's to my apartment is owned by Wendy herself, which is always entertaining to me.

The two stories of A&W would be a neat idea. A&W in Canada and America used to be one in the same and then split apart. The path each side took is interesting...

I loved their baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese! Those were so good! They were inexpensive and filling. I ate a lot of those in college. Dave was a cool guy.

Dave Thomas was a national treasure

Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich is always my go to order

R.I.P. Dave Thomas his hamburgers 🍔 are still great.

I still remember when Dave Thomas was in the advertisements for Wendy's, gave them a very wholesome vibe like they were independent, and it was backed by the fact that their meals were better than McDonald's or Burger King's. Kind of feels cool to have been alive for that, I had no idea about his story with KFC.

Wendy's Fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty is genuinely pretty good. Not my jam personally, but it's still pretty good so I don't knock it when people do it.

Dave Thomas! Awesome bro and best burgers! Cheers!

I like their burgers and love the Frosties! Even if I didn't like the food I would still eat there every now and then as Dave certainly loved people and provided the best he could manage for them in the Wendy's business and for struggling people on a personal level. God bless Dave and family!!

I met Dave when I was in high school. He was trying to start a fast food restaurant that failed, but I did get to meet Dave. What a nice guy...

Dave Thomas reached out to a lot of his friends in the early days for funding. My grandfather was one of the, but said no. Turns out I have met a handful of folks in Columbus who also had family that were propositioned with a Wendy's investment. They all said no, they all regret it. Dave Thomas was a wonderful person with a fantastic foundation to help orphans. He is beloved in Columbus, Ohio. Myself, my father and my grandfather all have a tradition of taking our sons to Wendy's after a long day of work. Sadly, the first Wendy's in downtown Columbus has closed.

This was a great choice y'all. Dave Thomas holds such a special place in the hearts of American Millennials and you just proved we were always right about him.

The super bar was one of the best things from the 80's.

WHERE'S THE BEEF??? Still lives in my childhood memories. And yes, frosty dipped fries are good😁. Dave left a legacy of helping those in foster care and needing adoption, so yay to this Michigan man😊

KFC is the only fast food job I ever had. I worked there for one day. I didn't even quit, just never went back. Dave Thomas was a salesmen that I never felt was trying to sell me something, he just loved what he was doing. That's a blessing.

I grew up in northeast Ohio and when the first Wendy's opened near us it immediately became my favorite burger place. I've been living overseas for over 20 years now but still try to get to a Wendy's whenever I'm back in the US. No doubt in my mind that Dave Thomas was an outstanding person in so many ways.

Dave Thomas was the GOAT!! And I never knew he created that spinning Kentucky Fried Chicken Bucket. Growing up, I thought that was so cool.

I often go to Wendy's and enjoyed this video. Even went to the first Wendy's once. Very proud of Dave Thomas. He had a commercial where he simply said, "I'm adopted." It was for his adoption fund. I liked that most of all. New favorite food: Italian Mozzarella Cheeseburger! From a long-time Columbus, Ohio customer 😋

I had a "Where's the beef?" T-shirt as a kid. One day while wearing it, some birds flew over me and pelted me with droppings. They landed all over the shirt. That's the only time it ever happened to me. I found the beef that day. Thanks for this memory, lol.

I loved the “where’s the beef” commercials and the ones with Dave in them. Wendy’s was always tasty. One thing I forgot to touch on was that They also had a pasta bar where you could have spaghetti or white sauce

The square patty was because they spread the ground beef out on cookie shets and could cut squar pattys out easier and faster.

I remember watching all of those Wendy's commercials as a kid! This video made me wanna go back and watch again!

That "Yum! Burgers" line gives me hopium for a Jollibee episode. Please make it a reality 😃

I only know more about him than other restaurant founders because I'm from Fort Wayne, Indiana and Wendy's is very popular there for that reason. Like, he wasn't even born there, he's known for living and working there. Fort Wayne doesn't have a lot of genuine celebrities that are natives (except for Jenna Fischer, she's a sweetheart), just famous people who lived there for an extended period of time, like Stephen King, Philo Farnsworth, and Dave Thomas.

Because of Dave, thousands of people's lives were touched, and he brought an idea to life and to the world that benefits countless folks, each to a different degree. It takes one man to change the world. Dave is one of those special men.

You guys have the timing of a young neil peart. I just watched Company Man's video on Orville Reddenbacher and it made me think of Dave. Thanks for this.

I loved going to the original Wendy's with a solid trip to COSI. Ah, those were the days! (I was a kid in the '90s.)

I love their chili! I remember watching the commercials with Dave and I didn't know he died that long ago! It's nice to see his daughter in them now. I remember hearing he had named the restaurant after his daughter but I didn't know her name wasn't Wendy.

Dave would be ashamed at what Wendy’s has become. Since he died it’s gone steadily downhill. Quality control and cleanliness is sub-par.

I used to eat there to visit my ex girlfriend at the original Wendy’s when she was working right before they ended up closing it. He also had a house in the middle of buckeye lake (about 30 miles from Columbus) that you could see from the shore. I was younger when he passed away but people around town used to say that he was pretty nice and a friend of mine who works at one of the “original 5” Wendy’s his daughter (Melinda who everyone calls Wendy) still visits those locations around Columbus all the time and is very sweet and involved in the community supposedly.

Omg he named Wendy’s after his little daughter. That’s so sweet and amazing.

He was so fun in the ads! And that bacon mushroom melt was dynamite in the 90s! He didn’t die a hero he lived long and stayed one.

A class act as a spokesman and the creator of the best fast food burgers!

Wow, all of your food documentaries are well written, nicely researched and well produced. Plus, your narrations are clear and understandable. Dennis

For me the Jr. Bacon cheeseburger is top notch at Wendy's. I definitely enjoyed this video and learned quite a lot.

OMG a Moving Violations throwback--Weird History, you always deliver! (And the baked potato bars at Wendy's were an awesome part of my childhood so thanks for that too.) :)

I miss their salad bar. It's hard to find a good salad bar anymore. Giant Eagle used to have one, but our local one shut it down (understandably) in 2020 and never reopened.

This guy is the goat!

Fell in love with Wendy’s back in my college days. Just a damn good burger.

My grandfather used to tend bar in Columbus. He served Dave Thomas a couple times. He said Dave Thomas was truly a nice guy.

Those descriptions are amazing. "Weak on beef" "A lady with a question" XD.

Always loved Dave.

I haven't gone to a Wendy's in years. The bake potato smothered in chili with some extra cheese was my go-to food in college. Oh wait, someone brought me a salad from there last spring. It had strawberries and chicken. It was quite good....hmmm, I may be about to visit a Wendy's soon ")

Fun fact: the original downtown Hobby House location, as well as the Hobby Ranch House location (up the street from my house) where Dave became a manager, closed down many years ago… but are now Wendy’s locations!

Dave Thomas was involved in the development of Boston Market (Boston Chinken back them) I was in high school in the early 90s, when I got recrutid to work for Boston Chicken in Corona Del Mar, California. Dave was genuently happy to talk to a bunch of high school kids from Estancia & Corona Del Mar high school. Such a classy guy!

For those that actually watched the vod from start to finish; Dave Thomas is such an inspiration! 🎩🖖🏾 Edit- "MBA" - Mop Bucket Attitude 👌🏾 @ 03:05 to 03:14 - 2nd MASTER STROKE 🔏

We had a Wendy’s in my town and I loved their burgers and Frostees. When I quit eating meat I kept going there for the salad bar, yummy baked potatoes and FROSTEES !! Nice to know he was so cool in real life.

Great content man. Thanks a lot.👍

Please do an episode on Roy Rogers . I used to love the burgers and the salad bars from RR.

I love Wendy's. McDonald's meals upset my stomach, the The Dave's Single with Cheese combo does not. My great grandfather was an army chef, he made the best soup ever. I love these videos, they bring back memories, most good.😀🍔

Dave Thomas was the best thing in fast food. I think it's pretty easy to agree on that. The ads back then really made you feel like he cared so much and was involved with the business while virtually no one else would do such a thing.

My family never ate Wendy’s growing up but I can remember all of his commercials from like 94-2000 ish the adds that I am seeing now are filling me with nostalgia

This was such an enjoyable and educational video on the origin of Wendy's and its founder Dave Thomas. Ever since I have watched and experienced the biopic movie The Founder, which was about the backstory of McDonald's, I've become extremely interested and invested in learning about the backstories and founders of other fast-food organizations. Needless to say, It was a very fun experience doing some research and watching this video to learn about Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's. Also, I actually hope to become a professional filmmaker one day as I would love to start directing and making movies at some point in my life. The reason I wanted to bring that up is because to be perfectly honest here, I would love to make a biopic movie on both the origin story of both Wendy's and its founder Dave Thomas to essentially both explain and show who Dave Thomas is/was and to celebrate his extraordinary legacy that he left behind in this world. A big reason on why I'm so interested in making a Wendy's/Dave Thomas biopic as well, is because it seems Dave Thomas really was an extremely kind and humble person, making him a good contrast and polar opposite to say, Ray Kroc, the "founder" of McDonald's.

Amazing video and great bit of food history, as always! What happened to the video I got notified about right before it tho? Something about holiday food favorites?

The amount of times I went "wow I didn't know that" is off the charts. I learned something while being thoroughly entertained

Being from the UK, never had a Wendy's nor knew about the owner. Thomas seemed like a great guy and I really want to try one now

I have two books on Dave Thomas that I have read and have found to be fascinating. I also find the burgers at "Wendy's", his signature restaurant to be tasty and downright amazing! 😋🍔🍟

Love Wendy's thanks for this man, love your vids

This was a great video always loved Wendy's burgers and this knowledge of Dave makes it even better

I used to love the Wendy's commercials that featured Dave....he seemed like a cool guys

8:35 Can confirm the dunking of fries into a Frosty.

Dave was a great guy. Still my favorite fast food place. I really live that pretzel bacon pub burger.

Beautiful guy! I was watching this while having my delivery from Wendy's. I had no idea that the square patties are their signature! Shall definitely try them out next time.

Wendy’s is definitely one of my Favorite fast food places out there, so this vid definitely up my alley.

love this channel

One dollar double stacks got me through a lot in life, it's usually what I still get when I go.

Mr Thomas should have ran for president.

You guys have taken documentaries and infomercials and found a sneaky new way to get paid. Nice job love this channel

Dave Thomas is certainly an intellectual man. Seems like he really persevered to have Wendy's put up on display.

I have more in common with Dave than I thought. We both love burgers, came from the Midwest and were married at 22.

I find Wendy's to be one of the most underrated fast food joints

i can’t wait until we get to learn about Burger King

I'm not dead