S. Truett Cathy

Cathy was born on March 14, 1921, in Eatonton, Georgia, the son of Lilla James (née Kimball) and Joseph Benjamin Cathy.{{cite news| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-08/s-truett-cathy-chick-fil-a-s-faith-driven-founder-dies-at-93 | work=Bloomberg | first=Laurence | last=Arnold | title=S. Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A's Faith-Driven Founder, Dies at 93 | date=September 8, 2014}} He attended Boys High School in Atlanta and later served in the United States Army during World War II.

File:"Food Is Essential to Life" IMG 5013.JPG]]

Cathy began the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville in 1946 with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill, named for its size. It was there that he, with his brother and business partner Ben, created the chicken sandwich that later became the signature menu item for Chick-fil-A. From 1964 to 1967, the sandwich was licensed to over fifty eateries, including Waffle House and the concession stands of the new Houston Astrodome.{{cite book |last1=McConnell |first1=Akila Sankar |title=A Culinary History of Atlanta |year=2019 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=114 |isbn=9781467141239 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xwuUDwAAQBAJ}} The Chick-Fil-A sandwich was withdrawn from sale at other restaurants when the first standalone location opened in 1967, in the food court of the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta.{{cite web |first1=Kelly |last1=Hayes |url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/the-history-of-chick-fil-a-from-small-diner-to-fast-food-giant-closed-on-sunday |title=The history of Chick-fil-A: From small diner to fast-food giant closed on Sunday |website=fox5ny.com |date=June 6, 2022 |accessdate=2024-05-04}}

In April 2008, he opened Upscale Pizza in Fayetteville, Georgia.{{cite news|last=Guy Collier|first=Joe|url=http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/04/25/truett_0425.html|title=Chick-fil-A founder opens pizza restaurant|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=April 25, 2008|access-date=December 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204023638/http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/04/25/truett_0425.html|archive-date=February 4, 2009}} In November 2013, he retired as both chairman and CEO of Chick-fil-A, leaving his son, Dan Cathy, to assume the roles.{{cite news|title=Chick-Fil-A Founder Retiring As CEO, Chairman|agency=Associated Press|publisher=CBS Atlanta|url=http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/11/07/chick-fil-a-founder-retiring-as-ceo-chairman|date=November 7, 2013}}

He married Jeannette McNeil, and they had three children: Trudy, "Bubba" (Don), and Dan.{{cite web|url=http://www.cathyfamily.com/truett/timeline.aspx#4|title=Cathy Family website|author=The Cathy Family|access-date=September 8, 2014}}

He taught Sunday school to teenagers at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Georgia, for over 50 years. Carey Kinsolving, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/07/04/in-a-fast-food-world-one-who-keeps-the-faith/2bb5a876-4ba3-4482-adfd-d19d6879ec9b/ In a fast-food world, one who keeps the faith], washingtonpost.com, USA, July 4, 1992 Bob Allen, [https://baptistnews.com/article/chick-fil-a-founder-baptist-layman-truett-cathy-dies/ Chick-fil-A founder, Baptist layman, Truett Cathy dies], baptistnews.com, USA, September 8, 2014

He said that the Bible is his guidebook for life.Cathy, S. Truett, It's Easier To Succeed Than Fail, Oliver-Nelson Books (1989); {{ISBN|0-8407-9030-9}}. Due to his strong religious beliefs, all of the company's locations, whether company-owned or franchised, are closed on Sundays to allow its employees to attend church and spend time with their families.{{cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Media/PDF/ClosedonSundaypolicy.pdf|title=Chick-fil-A's Closed-on-Sunday Policy|access-date=December 2, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929105406/http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Media/PDF/ClosedonSundaypolicy.pdf|archive-date=September 29, 2011}} This policy began when Cathy was working multiple shifts, six days a week. He then decided to close on Sundays.

Cathy wrote 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 Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men, an explanation of his business success in How Did You Do It, Truett?, and a final book on the significance of money in today's society titled Wealth, Is It Worth It?. He also contributed to the anthologies What My Parents Did Right{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Table of contents for What my parents did right! : 50+ tips to positive parenting / compiled by Gloria Gaither.|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=|chapter=Table of contents|lccn=2002068567|chapter-url=http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0705/2002068567-t.html}} and Conversations on Success, and co-wrote with Ken Blanchard Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure. McDonough-Fayetteville Road in Fayette, Henry, and Clayton counties, is named in his honor. Cathy said that the motivational book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was one of the greatest foundations for inspiration growing up.Cathy, S. Truett Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, 2002. Looking Glass Books; {{ISBN|1-929619-08-1}}.

File:Fordgarden.JPGCathy was closely involved in a sponsorship deal on the college football bowl game founded as the Peach Bowl; from 1997 to 2005, and again since 2014, it is known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and was simply named the Chick-fil-A Bowl from 2006 to 2013.{{cite web|title=Chick-fil-A Bowl will restore 'Peach' to its name|author=Tim Tucker|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=April 18, 2014|access-date=April 20, 2014|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college-football/chick-fil-a-bowl-will-restore-peach-to-its-name/nfcpT/|archive-date=January 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131114709/http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college-football/chick-fil-a-bowl-will-restore-peach-to-its-name/nfcpT/|url-status=dead}} On October 28, 2006, Cathy received the last Taurus off the assembly line of Ford's Atlanta plant, in recognition of a 60-year relationship between him and the plant.

Cathy had a Leadership Scholarship program for Chick-fil-A restaurant employees, Lauren Gallaher, [https://www.chattanoogan.com/2002/10/3/27346/Truett-Cathy-Of-Chick-Fil-A-To-Speak.aspx Truett Cathy Of Chick-Fil-A To Speak At Lee University], chattanoogan.com, USA, October 3, 2002 which has awarded more than $23 million in $1,000 scholarships in the past 35 years. In 1984, Cathy established the WinShape Foundation, named for its mission to shape winners.{{cite web|url=http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/content.asp?contentid=612|title=2008 Simon Prize Recipient|work=Philanthropy Roundtable|access-date=December 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927112152/http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/content.asp?contentid=612|archive-date=September 27, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.facesofphilanthropy.com/samuel-truett-cathy-philanthropy|title=Samuel Truett Cathy Philanthropy|access-date=September 8, 2014}} In addition, Cathy fostered children for more than 30 years. He received the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership in 2008.

Cathy died at his home on September 8, 2014, the age of 93 of complications from diabetes. The family held a public funeral service on Wednesday, September 10, at First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Georgia.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/chick-fil-founder-truett-cathy-died-25340030|title=Chick-Fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy Has Died|work=ABC News|access-date=September 8, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/chick-fil-founder-truett-cathy-died-25340030|title=Death of S.T. Cathy|work=ABC News|access-date=September 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title=S. Truett Cathy In Memoriam|author=Staff|url=http://www.truettcathy.com/memory.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908114653/http://www.truettcathy.com/memory.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2014|publisher=CFA Properties Inc|date=September 8, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Truett Cathy Obituary|url=http://www.truettcathy.com/TruettCathyObituary.pdf|publisher=The Cathy Family|access-date=September 8, 2014}} His interment was at Greenwood Cemetery.

His widow, Jeannette Cathy, died in 2015 at age 92.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/wife-of-chick-fil-a-founder-jeannette-cathy-passes|title=Wife of Chick-fil-a founder, Jeannette Cathy passes|date=July 22, 2015|website=FOX 5 Atlanta}}

File:Cathy and Bush Apr 2008.jpg

Cathy received numerous honors, including membership in Omicron Delta Kappa (ΟΔΚ), the National Leadership Honor Society. He received ΟΔΚ'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.{{cite news|url=http://www.theweekly.com/news/2007/May/25/Truett_Cathy.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120314095102/http://www.theweekly.com/news/2007/May/25/Truett_Cathy.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 14, 2012|title=Chick-fil-A Founder to Receive Award for Service to Youth|publisher=The Weekly Online!|date=May 25, 2007|access-date=December 2, 2011}}{{Cite journal|access-date=September 8, 2014|title=Silver Buffalo Awards|journal=Scouting|page=37|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_wDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA37|date=September 2007|issn=0036-9500}}

He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Pi Fraternities.{{cite web|title=Prominent Pikes|url=http://www.pikes.org/ProminentPikes.aspx?mode=spage&spid=53&pid=3|work=pike.org|publisher=Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity|access-date=September 8, 2014|archive-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803174701/http://www.pikes.org/ProminentPikes.aspx?mode=spage&spid=53&pid=3|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_S-Truett-Cathy_AARY.html|title=Forbes 400 Richest Americans (2007): #380 S Truett Cathy|work=Forbes|date=September 20, 2007|quote=Net worth: $1.3 billion}}{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_S-Truett-Cathy_AARY.html|title=The World's Billionaires (2007): #799 S Truett Cathy|work=Forbes|date=March 9, 2007|quote=Net worth: $4.5 billion}}

President George W. Bush bestowed the President's Call to Service Award on Cathy in 2008.{{cite journal|title=S. Truett Cathy applauded by President Bush|journal=Atlanta Business Chronicle|date=April 16, 2008|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/04/14/daily32.html|access-date=July 27, 2012}}

In 2013, he was inducted as a Georgia Trustee. The honor is given by the Georgia Historical Society, in conjunction with the Governor of Georgia, to individuals whose accomplishments and community service reflect the ideals of the founding body of Trustees, which governed the Georgia colony from 1732 to 1752.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

In 1997, he received an honorary degree in Doctor of Humane Letters from Oglethorpe University.{{cite web|title=Honorary Degrees Awarded by Oglethorpe University |publisher=Oglethorpe University |url=http://www.oglethorpe.edu/about_us/history/honorary_degrees.asp |access-date=March 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319104000/http://www.oglethorpe.edu/about_us/history/honorary_degrees.asp |archive-date=March 19, 2015 }}

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 conferred upon Cathy an honorary doctorate of business.

In May 2012, Cathy received an honorary doctorate along with presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Liberty University's spring commencement ceremony. In his remarks, Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee at the time, said, "The Romney campaign comes to a sudden stop when we spot a Chick-fil-A. Your chicken sandwiches were our comfort food through the primary season, and heaven knows there were days that we needed a lot of comfort." Romney congratulated Cathy on his "well-deserved honor today".O'Connor, Clare, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/05/12/romney-speaks-at-anti-gay-liberty-university-alongside-baptist-billionaire "Romney Speaks At Anti-Gay Liberty University Alongside Baptist Billionaire"], Forbes blog, May 12, 2012; retrieved May 12, 2012.

{{Portal|Biography|Georgia (U.S. state)|Conservatism}}

• {{citation|last=Cathy|first=S. Truett|title=Wealth, Is It Worth It?|year=2010|publisher=Looking Glass Books|isbn=978-1929619405}}
• {{citation|last=Cathy|first=S. Truett|author-mask=2|title=How Did You Do It, Truett?: A Recipe for Success|year=2007|publisher=Looking Glass Press|isbn=978-1929619337|url=https://archive.org/details/howdidyoudoittru00stru}}
• {{citation|last=Cathy|first=S. Truett|author-mask=2|title=It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men|year=2004|publisher=Looking Glass Books|isbn=1929619200|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/itsbettertobuild0000cath}}
• {{citation|last=Cathy|first=S. Truett|author-mask=2|title=Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People|year=2002|publisher=Looking Glass Books|isbn=1-929619-08-1|url=https://archive.org/details/eatmorchikininsp00cath}}
• {{citation|last=Cathy|first=S. Truett|author-mask=2|title=It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail|year=1989|publisher=Thomas Nelson Inc.|isbn=0840790309|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/itseasiertosucce0000cath}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060411081511/http://www.horatioalger.com/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=CAT89 Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans: S. Truett Cathy]; accessed September 8, 2014.
• [http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/service_with_a_smile Serving with a Smile: Meet S. Truett Cathy, Winner of the 2008 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership]

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