H. Res. 336
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
January 29, 2002.
Whereas the House of Representatives has learned with great
sadness of the death of Dave Thomas from liver cancer
at the age of 69 on January 8, 2002;
Whereas Dave Thomas, born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on
July 2, 1932, and adopted shortly thereafter by Rex and
Auleva Thomas, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was a lifelong
advocate and activist for the cause of adoption;
Whereas Dave Thomas, in 1979, was awarded the Horatio
Alger Award for dedication, individual initiative, and a
commitment to excellence, as exemplified by remarkable
achievements accomplished through honesty, hard work,
self-reliance, and perseverance;
Whereas from 1990 until 2000 Dave Thomas was the na-
tional spokesman for numerous White House adoption
and foster care initiatives;
Whereas Dave Thomas received numerous awards, including
the Angel in Adoption Award by the Congressional Coali-
tion on Adoption, for generating awareness of the thou-
sands of children waiting for permanent homes and lov-
ing families;
Whereas Dave Thomas, in 1992, established the Dave Thom-
as Foundation for Adoption and donated his speaking
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fees and profits from sales of his books, ‘‘Dave’s Way,
Well Done!’’ and ‘‘Franchising for Dummies’’, to adop-
tion causes;
Whereas Dave Thomas established the Dave Thomas Foun-
dation for Adoption to work with national adoption orga-
nizations, individuals, and public and private agencies to
raise awareness about children awaiting adoption and to
provide direct support for programs seeking to find per-
manent homes for children in foster care;
Whereas Dave Thomas established the Dave Thomas Center
for Adoption Law to ease and facilitate the adoption
process through education, advocacy, and research;
Whereas Dave Thomas was a constructive force in shaping
corporate health policy to cover adoption expenses and,
through his efforts, 75 percent of Fortune 1000 compa-
nies now offer adoption benefits to their employees;
Whereas Dave Thomas received the 2001 Social Awareness
Award from the United States Postal Service for being
instrumental in the use of the Adoption Awareness post-
age stamp as a vehicle for highlighting the cause of adop-
tion;
Whereas Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s Old-Fashioned
Hamburgers in Columbus, Ohio, on November 15, 1969,
and transformed it into one of the most successful food
franchises in the country and, in promoting Wendy’s, be-
came a national figure representing a friendly face, good
food, and a kind sense of humor;
Whereas Dave Thomas, in 1993, 45 years after leaving
school, earned his GED certificate and received his high
school diploma from Coconut Creek High School in Fort
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Lauderdale, Florida, securing him as role model to stu-
dents of all ages; and
Whereas Dave Thomas used his financial success to promote
and advance the cause of adoption: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes that America has lost one of its most
dedicated and hardest working advocates for adoption,
and honors him in his devotion to family, life, and busi-
ness; and
(2) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to
the family of Dave Thomas on their loss.
Attest:
Clerk.