Even if you prefer one of the other fast-food restaurants in the United States and have not yet set foot in a Wendy’s, chances are you are familiar with the brand name that is one of the most successful in America. Among the things you probably know about the company is its logo, which bears the face of Wendy Thomas, Dave Thomas’ daughter, who is also the woman who inspired the name of the fast-food chain.
As the face of one of the largest 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?
Anyone familiar with the list of America’s most successful entrepreneurs will know the name of Dave Thomas, who is considered the founder of Wendy’s and also the mastermind behind the success of another popular fast-food franchise, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
In addition to founding two major companies, Wendy Thomas is another company he founded; a daughter born to him and his wife Lorraine Thomas on September 14, 1961. She was born as the fourth child of the famous entrepreneur in Columbus, Ohio.
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Although she is known as Wendy Thomas, her real name is Melinda Lou Thomas-Morse, and she acquired Wendy as a nickname when she struggled with the pronunciation of Ls and Rs as a child.
Not much is known about her history of basic education, but as an adult, she studied consumer behavior research at the University of Florida and graduated in 1983.
One of the most important things Wendy Thomas is known for is the fact that she is the namesake of the famous fast-food franchise Wendy, and this fact came about when she was eight years old and Dave Thomas decided to name his restaurant, Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, after his daughter.
Not only did she share her name with her father’s company, but her face was also used as the logo for the company that has grown into one of the five largest fast-food chains in the world.
Her connection to Wendy and her adult career is not limited to her childhood achievements. She is a mascot and spokesperson for the brand and has appeared in several commercials for the fast-food chain.
Although her voice was used in 1989 in an advertisement in which she gave advice to her father, Wendy Thomas first appeared in a Wendy’s commercial in November 2010 as a spokesperson and mascot. Since then, she has appeared in several ads in various American states and cities including Las Vegas, Nevada, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and others.
In addition to her work as a Wendy’s spokesperson, Dave Thomas’ daughter is also an entrepreneur. She owns several franchise outlets of the fast-food chain throughout America, especially in Columbus, Ohio, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, she owned more than 30 Wendy’s restaurants, and it is believed that she has purchased more since then.
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Personal Life
Despite her famous background and her professional career, which keeps her in the public eye, Wendy Thomas has done a good job of keeping her private life out of the public eye.
For now, all we know about the fast-food entrepreneur and her mascot is that she is a married woman who is loyal to a man named Paul Morse. Not much is known about their relationship, not even about the time of their marriage, but we do know that they have a daughter, McKenzie Morse. Wendy and her husband live together in Upper Arlington, Ohio.
Apart from her immediate family, Wendy Thomas has three older siblings, Pam, Lori, and Molly, who are all women. Together with her sisters, the Thomas family owns a considerable number of Wendy businesses. Her fourth sibling, a younger brother named Kenny, died in 2013.
Other Facts About Her
1. her father, Dave Thomas, appeared in more than 800 commercials during his lifetime
2. since April 2012, she appears in a series of commercials for Wendy’s entitled That Wendy’s Way. In the ad, she promotes the quality of Wendy’s ingredients, preparation, and values as envisioned by her late father.
3 Wendy Thomas owned several Wendy’s stores in Dallas, Texas until 1999, when she sold them.
