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Truett Cathy was drafted by the U.S. Army and served in 1939 until he was honorably discharged in 1945. |
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Truett Cathy first started in the restaurant business in 1946 by opening a 24-hour diner in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, Ga. The restaurant was so small – only 10 stools and four tables – that Cathy and his brother, Ben, decided to call the restaurant the Dwarf Grill (later renamed the Dwarf House). |
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Founder and Chairman
Chick-fil-A Inc.
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Founder and Chairman
Chick-fil-A Inc. |
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Dan T. Cathy (right), President and Chief Operating Officer,
Chick-fil-A, Inc. and his father S. Truett Cathy, Founder and Chairman, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
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Privately held Chick-fil-A, Inc., is headed by Founder and Chairman Truett Cathy (sitting), and his two sons, Dan T. Cathy (right), President and Chief Operating Officer, and Donald “Bubba” Cathy (left), Senior Vice President. |
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Chick-fil-A Founder and Chairman Truett Cathy at the company headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. |
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In 1982, Chick-fil-A’s Executive Committee established the chain’s
Corporate Purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of
all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all
who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” |
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Opened in 1967, Chick-fil-A’s first restaurant was located in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall. Truett Cathy is recognized as an early pioneer of today’s “food court” concept. The original “front-counter” restaurant concept of the Greenbriar Mall location allowed the restaurant to occupy a total space of 384 square feet. |
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The chain’s first free-standing location opened in 1986 in Atlanta. Today, more than half of the chain’s nearly 1,500 restaurants are free-standing locations. |
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Truett Cathy’s unique business principles and leadership values are a common thread in the four books that he has written: “It’s Easier To Succeed Than To Fail,” “Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People,” “The Generosity Factor,” “It’s Better To Build Boys Than Mend Men.”, and “How Did You Do It, Truett?” |
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Chick-fil-A Founder Truett Cathy is credited with inventing the first fast-food chicken sandwich. He developed the recipe for the sandwich in the early 1960s and, as a result of the sandwich’s popularity, founded the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain in 1967. |
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Truett Cathy’s commitment reaches far beyond the people who work and eat in his restaurants. Because of his interest in the growth and education of young people, Cathy established the WinShape Foundation, Inc., in 1984. His goal: to help “shape winners.” Located on the campus of Berry College in Rome, Ga., the foundation supports WinShape Homes®, the WinShape™ Retreat, WinShape™ Marriage, Camp WinShape®, WinShape Wilderness® and the WinShape Scholarship Program at Berry. |
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Through his WinShape Homes® foster care program, Truett Cathy is “Grandpa” to more than
150 children.
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Truett has always had a special place in his heart for children. He taught Sunday school for more than 50 years, and always looks for opportunities to help educate and develop children.
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Mayor of Hapeville Alan Hallman congratulates Truett Cathy for 60 years of service in the restaurant industry, as well as his
commitment to the Hapeville and south Atlanta community. The Mayor presented Cathy a proclamation designating May 23 as Truett Cathy Day in the city of Hapeville.
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In 2006, Cathy celebrated his 60th anniversary in the restaurant business.
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In 2006, Cathy welcomed the third generation of Cathy family members to the business. Two of his grandsons, Andrew and Mark Cathy, opened new restaurants in St. Petersburg, Fla., and San Marcos, Calif., respectively, with third grandson John White opening a new restaurant in Raleigh, N.C. in 2008.
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In 2008, Cathy was honored for his commitment to serving others during a visit to Washington, D.C. where he received The President's Call to Service Award - The Presidential Volunteer Service Award presented to those who have dedicated more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service over a lifetime.
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Sandy Douglas – President of Coca-Cola, North America presents Truett with a check for the Foundation at his 90th birthday celebration.
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Truett Cathy has experienced poverty and plenty. Though the founder of Chick-fil-A, Inc., prefers times of plenty, he hopes never to forget the lessons he learned growing up poor. No overnight success story, Cathy worked with his wife, Jeannette, for 21 years behind the counter of their single mom-and-pop restaurant before he opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant at the age of 46. His latest book, Wealth: Is it Worth It? explores the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany success.
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