Even if you prefer any of the other fast-food restaurants in the United States, and you haven’t stepped foot into a Wendy’s, there is still a strong likelihood that you are familiar with the brand name, which is one of America’s most successful. Among the things you are likely to know about the company is its logo, which bears the face of Wendy Thomas, Dave Thomas’ daughter who is also the woman that inspired the name of the fast-food chain.
As the face of one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world, many have wondered who she is, and in this article, we answer everything you need to know about Wendy Thomas and her connection to the franchise. Check it all out below.
Who is Wendy Thomas? How Old is She?
Those conversant with the list of America’s most successful entrepreneurs would be familiar with the name Dave Thomas, credited as the founder of Wendy’s, as well as the mastermind behind the success of another popular fast-food franchise, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
Other than creating two great companies, Wendy Thomas is another one of his creation; a daughter that was born to him and his wife, Lorraine Thomas, on the 14th of September 1961. She was born as the fourth child of the famous entrepreneur in Columbus, Ohio.
Although she is famously known as Wendy Thomas, her real name is Melinda Lou Thomas-Morse and she acquired Wendy as a nickname when she was a child struggling to pronounce Ls and Rs.
Not much is known about her basic education history but as an adult, she studied consumer behaviorism from the University of Florida, graduating in 1983.
One of the most significant things Wendy Thomas is known for is the fact she is the namesake of the famous fast-food franchise, Wendy and it is a fact that came into existence when she was eight years old and Dave Thomas decided to name his restaurant, Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers after his daughter.
In addition to sharing her name with her father’s business, her face was also used as a logo for the business, which has grown to become a top-five fast-food chain in the world.
However, her connection to Wendy’s and her professional career as an adult is not just limited to her childhood accomplishments. She is a mascot and spokesperson for the brand and has featured in several commercials promoting the fast-food chain.
Although her voice was used in an ad in 1989, where she was heard giving her father advice, Wendy Thomas’s first appearance in a Wendy’s ad as a spokesperson and mascot was in November 2010. Since then, she has featured in several ads that have appeared in various American states and cities, such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Virginia Beach, Virginia and others.
Aside from her work as a Wendy’s spokesperson, Dave Thomas’ daughter is also an entrepreneur. She owns several franchise outlets of the fast-food chain across America, particularly in Columbus, Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada. As of 2010, she has more than 30 Wendy’s restaurants, and she is believed to have acquired more since then.
Personal Life
Despite having a famous background and a professional career that has continued to keep her in the public eye, Wendy Thomas, so far, has done a good job of keeping her personal life away from the public.
At the moment, all we know about the fast-food entrepreneur and mascot is that she is a married woman, devoted to a man named Paul Morse. Not much is known about their relationship, including when they got married, but we know they have a daughter, McKenzie Morse. Wendy and her husband live together in Upper Arlington, Ohio.
Aside from her immediate family, Wendy Thomas has three older siblings, Pam, Lori and Molly, all of whom are women. Along with her sisters, the Thomas family owns a considerable number of Wendy stores. Her fourth sibling, a junior brother named Kenny, died in 2013.
See Also: How Much Is Wendy Thomas Worth Since Her Father – Dave Thomas Died?
Other Facts About Her
1. Her father, Dave Thomas, appeared in more than 800 commercials during his lifetime.
2. She has been appearing in a series of ads for Wendy’s called That Wendy’s Way since April 2012. In the ad, she can be seen touting the quality in ingredients, preparation and values of Wendy’s as envisioned by her late father.
3. Wendy Thomas used to own several Wendy’s stores in Dallas, Texas until 1999 when she sold them off.
