caption death_date death_place birth_place image_size name birth_date article_title birth_name occupation
dave thomas image , courtesy of afp/getty images . 8 january 2002 fort lauderdale , florida , usa atlantic city , new jersey , usa 250px dave thomas 2 july 1932 dave thomas -lrb- businessman -rrb-
 rex david thomas businessperson 's , philanthropist , founder and ceo of wendy
dave thomas -lrb- businessman -rrb-

rex david `` dave '' thomas -lrb- july 2 , 1932january 8 , 2002 -rrb- was an american businessperson and philanthropist .
thomas was the founder and chief executive officer of wendy 's , a fast-food restaurant chain specializing in hamburgers .
he is also known for appearing in more than 800 commercial advertisements for the chain from 1989 to 2002 , more than any other company founder in television history .
