S. Truett Cathy
Encyclopedia
Samuel Truett Cathy is the founder of Chick-fil-A
, a quick service restaurant chain based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia
, USA.
in 1921. He attended Boys High School in Atlanta, Georgia
. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Cathy began the chain in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, Georgia
in 1946 with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, named for its small size. It was there that he, along with his brother and partner, Ben, created the sandwich that later became the signature menu item for Chick-fil-A. The original restaurant, since renamed Dwarf House, is still in operation, and the company operates other Dwarf House locations in the metro Atlanta area.
He is also a philanthropist
, having given to numerous charitable causes, many with evangelical
ties. Cathy is also closely involved with the sponsorship of the college football
bowl game now known as the Chick-fil-A Bowl
, but from 1997-2005 known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and prior to that simply the Peach Bowl. On October 28, 2006 he received the last vehicle off the assembly line of Ford's Atlanta plant which symbolizes a 60-year relationship between Truett and the Ford plant. The plant had opened its doors one year after Truett opened the Dwarf Grill and Truett regularly served all three shifts. Cathy has also given extensive donations to Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Cathy also built the WinShape
program at this school, and continues to give numerous scholarships each year.
He has written five books: the autobiography Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, a motivational book entitled It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, the parenting book It's Easier to Build Boys Than Mend Men, an explanation of his business success in How Did You Do It, Truett?, and a final novel on the significance of money in today's society titled "Wealth, is it worth it?". He also contributed to the anthology Conversations on Success and co-wrote with Ken Blanchard
Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure. There is a portion of Jonesboro Rd and McDonough Rd in Henry County,Georgia and Clayton County,Georgia named in his honor. Cathy has said that the motivational book "Think and Grow Rich
" by Napoleon Hill
was one of the greatest foundations for inspiration growing up.
In April 2008, Cathy opened a new restaurant concept called "Upscale Pizza" with one location in Fayetteville, Georgia. The menu features pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches and milkshakes. Cathy has said there are no plans to turn this one-shot store into another chain.
, named for its mission to shape winners. In 2010, the foundation provided roughly $18 million to fund the development of foster homes and summer camp. Past donations from the WinShape Foundation include the funding of several college scholarships and marriage counseling programs. The foundation has awarded nearly 820 students of Berry College
with Scholarships of up to $32,000. WinShape has also given millions of dollars to anti-gay groups.
In 2008, Cathy's WinShape foundation became the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic leadership which awarded it $250,000 towards future philanthropy, as a result of its contributions to society. The prize was created to further ideals such as personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people who help themselves. It honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving, highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change, and seeks to inspire others to support charities that achieve genuine results.
Additionally, Cathy has dedicated his time and resources towards welcoming homeless children into his home and has taught in Sunday school sessions. He has fostered children for over 30 years, and has since taken in nearly 200 foster children through WinShape Homes. WinShape Homes is a long-term foster care program that includes 14 foster homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Cathy also has a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A
restaurant employees, which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years.
In recognition of his philanthropic efforts through WinShape, Cathy received the Children's Champion Award for Family and Community from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund in 2011.
(OΔK), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received OΔK's highest award, the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in 2009. He also received the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership
, and the Boy Scouts of America
Silver Buffalo Award
. Cathy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2003.
He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
and Delta Sigma Pi
Fraternities
.
In 2007, Forbes
magazine ranked Cathy as the 380th richest man in America and the 799th richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
Various quotations from him are to be read on Chick-fil-A's individually wrapped restaurant mints.
Cathy was inducted into the Indiana Wesleyan University
Society of World Changers on April 3, 2011. In addition to being inducted into the Society, the university also conferred upon Cathy an honorary doctorate of business.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
, a quick service restaurant chain based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA.
Early life
Cathy was born in Eatonton, GeorgiaEatonton, Georgia
Eatonton is a city in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,480. The city is the county seat of Putnam County. It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War...
in 1921. He attended Boys High School in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Cathy began the chain in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville, Georgia
Hapeville, Georgia
Hapeville is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States, located directly adjacent to the city of Atlanta. The population was 6,373 at the 2010 census. It is named for Dr...
in 1946 with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, named for its small size. It was there that he, along with his brother and partner, Ben, created the sandwich that later became the signature menu item for Chick-fil-A. The original restaurant, since renamed Dwarf House, is still in operation, and the company operates other Dwarf House locations in the metro Atlanta area.
Career
Cathy is a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia, and also has taught Sunday School there for over 50 years. He has testified that the Bible is his guide-book for life. As an extension of his convictions, all of the company's locations (whether company-owned or franchised), are closed on Sundays — a rare policy within the food-service industry — to allow its employees to attend church and spend time with their families. This is a policy that began when Truett was working 6 days a week, multiple shifts. He decided to close on Sundays to relax and recharge, as well as honor God. The policy remains intact today as the restaurants are closed on Sunday.He is also a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, having given to numerous charitable causes, many with evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
ties. Cathy is also closely involved with the sponsorship of the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game now known as the Chick-fil-A Bowl
Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and before that simply called the Peach Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta, Georgia since December 1968. The first three Peach Bowls were played at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta....
, but from 1997-2005 known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and prior to that simply the Peach Bowl. On October 28, 2006 he received the last vehicle off the assembly line of Ford's Atlanta plant which symbolizes a 60-year relationship between Truett and the Ford plant. The plant had opened its doors one year after Truett opened the Dwarf Grill and Truett regularly served all three shifts. Cathy has also given extensive donations to Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Cathy also built the WinShape
WinShape
The WinShape Foundation is an American charitable endeavor of the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A and its founder Truett Cathy and his family...
program at this school, and continues to give numerous scholarships each year.
He has written five books: the autobiography Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, a motivational book entitled It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, the parenting book It's Easier to Build Boys Than Mend Men, an explanation of his business success in How Did You Do It, Truett?, and a final novel on the significance of money in today's society titled "Wealth, is it worth it?". He also contributed to the anthology Conversations on Success and co-wrote with Ken Blanchard
Ken Blanchard
Kenneth Hartley Blanchard is an American author and management expert. His book The One Minute Manager has sold over 13 million copies and has been translated into 37 languages...
Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure. There is a portion of Jonesboro Rd and McDonough Rd in Henry County,Georgia and Clayton County,Georgia named in his honor. Cathy has said that the motivational book "Think and Grow Rich
Think and Grow Rich
Think and Grow Rich is a motivational personal development and self-help book written by Napoleon Hill and inspired by a suggestion from Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie...
" by Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill was an American author who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature. He is widely considered to be one of the great writers on success...
was one of the greatest foundations for inspiration growing up.
In April 2008, Cathy opened a new restaurant concept called "Upscale Pizza" with one location in Fayetteville, Georgia. The menu features pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches and milkshakes. Cathy has said there are no plans to turn this one-shot store into another chain.
Contributions
Cathy has dedicated his time and resources to many philanthropic causes, focusing on those related to the welfare of needy children. In 1984, Cathy established the WinShape FoundationWinShape
The WinShape Foundation is an American charitable endeavor of the fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A and its founder Truett Cathy and his family...
, named for its mission to shape winners. In 2010, the foundation provided roughly $18 million to fund the development of foster homes and summer camp. Past donations from the WinShape Foundation include the funding of several college scholarships and marriage counseling programs. The foundation has awarded nearly 820 students of Berry College
Berry College
Berry College is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Mount Berry, unincorporated Floyd County, Georgia, north of Rome. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located on U.S...
with Scholarships of up to $32,000. WinShape has also given millions of dollars to anti-gay groups.
In 2008, Cathy's WinShape foundation became the winner of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic leadership which awarded it $250,000 towards future philanthropy, as a result of its contributions to society. The prize was created to further ideals such as personal responsibility, resourcefulness, volunteerism, scholarship, individual freedom, faith in God, and helping people who help themselves. It honors living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their charitable giving, highlights the power of philanthropy to achieve positive change, and seeks to inspire others to support charities that achieve genuine results.
Additionally, Cathy has dedicated his time and resources towards welcoming homeless children into his home and has taught in Sunday school sessions. He has fostered children for over 30 years, and has since taken in nearly 200 foster children through WinShape Homes. WinShape Homes is a long-term foster care program that includes 14 foster homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Cathy also has a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
restaurant employees, which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years.
In recognition of his philanthropic efforts through WinShape, Cathy received the Children's Champion Award for Family and Community from the charitable organization Children's Hunger Fund in 2011.
Honors and memberships
Cathy has received numerous honors, including membership in Omicron Delta KappaOmicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
(OΔK), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received OΔK's highest award, the Laurel Crowned Circle Award in 2009. He also received the Norman Vincent and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, the Horatio Alger Award, the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership
William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership
The William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership is an annual award given by the William E. Simon Foundation in honor of its founder, former Secretary of the Treasury and financier William E...
, and the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
. Cathy was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2003.
He is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
and Delta Sigma Pi
Delta Sigma Pi
ΔΣΠ ' is one of the largest co-ed professional business fraternities. Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907 at the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, New York University, New York, New York and is currently headquartered in Oxford, Ohio...
Fraternities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
In 2007, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine ranked Cathy as the 380th richest man in America and the 799th richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
Various quotations from him are to be read on Chick-fil-A's individually wrapped restaurant mints.
Cathy was inducted into the Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination...
Society of World Changers on April 3, 2011. In addition to being inducted into the Society, the university also conferred upon Cathy an honorary doctorate of business.