The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING LIFE OF DAVE THOMAS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H88-H92 on Jan. 29, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING LIFE OF DAVE THOMAS
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 336) honoring the life of Rex David
``Dave'' Thomas and expressing the deepest condolences of the House of Representatives to his family on his death.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 336
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 national 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 Coalition on Adoption, for generating awareness of the thousands of children waiting for permanent homes and loving families;
Whereas Dave Thomas, in 1992, established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and donated his speaking fees and profits from sales of his books, ``Dave's Way, Well Done!'' and ``Franchising for Dummies'', to adoption causes;
Whereas Dave Thomas established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to work with national adoption organizations, individuals, and public and private agencies to raise awareness about children awaiting adoption and to provide direct support for programs seeking to find permanent 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 companies 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 postage stamp as a vehicle for highlighting the cause of adoption;
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, became 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 Lauderdale, Florida, securing him as role model to students 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 business; and
(2) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the family of Dave Thomas on their loss.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).
General Leave
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 336.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution 336, an important resolution introduced by the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce). This resolution recognizes and honors the remarkable life of Dave Thomas and expresses the House of Representatives' condolences to his family on his recent death.
Mr. Speaker, Dave Thomas, founder and chairman of Wendy's International, passed away on January 8, 2002, from cancer. Dave Thomas was an extraordinary man. Thomas founded Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants in 1969 and named the company after one of his daughters. This restaurant chain grew explosively to more than 6,000 locations worldwide. Dave Thomas was a successful businessman. He also shared his humor, friendliness and humility with the American public which was evident through his television commercials.
But his legacy does not consist of his business success alone. Dave Thomas energetically championed an issue that is close to my heart, adoption. I am the father of two adopted children and a Member of the House Adoption Caucus. I understand Mr. Thomas' passion for making sure that all our children are wanted, loved and provided with a nurturing home.
Thomas was himself adopted, and he became a passionate advocate for adoption. In 1992 he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The foundation's goal was simple and straightforward but profound: Every child will have a permanent home and loving family.
Mr. Thomas has testified before Congress in support of adoption tax credits and adoption legislation, appeared in several television public service announcements, and led an initiative to create the adoption stamp that was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in May 2000. He also established the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law to facilitate the adoption process through education advocacy and research.
Dave Thomas worked hard to advance the cause of adoption and heightened awareness in our country about the fact that all children deserve the love and security of a family. For this achievement alone, Mr. Speaker, Dave Thomas earned the respect and gratitude of the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Florida, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization, in consideration of this resolution. I also want to commend the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for her sensitivity in introducing this legislation to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants, died of cancer on January 8. In a tribute to Thomas, Wendy's web page notes that ``Dave was much more than Wendy's founder and senior spokesman. He was a mentor to many hundreds of people he personally helped and thousands who have been inspired by his leadership.''
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 2, 1932, Mr. Thomas was adopted by Rex and Auleva Thomas of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and became a lifelong advocate and activist for the cause of adoption. Thousands have been inspired by his leadership and personal commitment to finding homes for children in foster care.
Mr. Thomas was a talented and dedicated businessman, but he was also a leader who accepted the challenge of ensuring that every child has a permanent and loving home. Every day in this country, more than three children die as a result of abuse or neglect. In 1997, an estimated 1,197 children died as a result of abuse or neglect. Seventy-seven percent of those children died before reaching their third birthday. Dave Thomas was their advocate and their friend.
An estimated 1.35 million children in the United States are homeless. Children made up 23 percent of the homeless population in 1996, a 10 percent increase since 1987.
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Dave Thomas was their advocate. Of the children in foster care in 1998, 110,000 had a goal of adoption. Dave Thomas was a leader and advocate to help these children realize their goal. That is why in July of 1992, Dave Thomas established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
The cornerstone of the foundation was to make adoption work for children and parents. The foundation serves an active voice for the more than 134,000 children in the public child welfare system who are waiting for permanent homes and loving families.
Wendy's followed Thomas' lead and officially declared adoption as its charity of choice in 1994. In fact, Wendy's adoption efforts, such as posters, trade liners and public service announcements account for approximately 40 percent of all calls taken at the National Adoption Center's toll-free number, 1-800-TO ADOPT.
Dave Thomas' leadership and advocacy have made a tremendous difference in the lives of children waiting to be adopted in the United States. Mr. Thomas truly lived the motto ``If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word of song.''
Dave Thomas was indeed not only a hero to the thousands of children who are in need of adoption, but all of us who need inspiring, who need inspiration and information relative to this great public need.
So, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this resolution. Once again, I commend the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for its introduction.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the distinguished author of this resolution, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce), be permitted to control the remainder of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for so graciously allowing me to manage the time for this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I am very honored to be here today to remember Dave Thomas. My deepest condolences go to Dave's beloved wife, Lorraine, his children, his grandchildren, and to the many, many people who loved him at Wendy's International and across the United States of America. It was easy to love Dave. He was a selfless, kind and thoughtful man whose fun-loving nature and honest disposition made him a friend to so many.
Most of America will remember Dave as the face of Wendy's, that square hamburger made with pride to perfection. I know I remember when the first Wendy's was launched in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, back in 1969. Today, over 6,000 Wendy's are sprinkled throughout the neighborhoods and cities across the U.S. and in 34 countries.
There is no question, Dave Thomas will be remembered as a man of humble beginnings who created one of the most successful fast-food chains in the entire world. He was indeed a business giant, a remarkable man.
But today I ask that we also remember Dave as a tireless champion for children, for the thousands of children who do not have families to care for them, who do not have permanent homes, and who are waiting to be adopted.
As an adopted child himself, Dave felt so fortunate to have been given a family to care for him, to love him and to support him. Throughout his life, he carried with him an acute awareness for the wonderful and generous gift he was given; and as he grew to manhood, he never forgot his roots, and in time he would find himself fighting to give other parentless children the gift he so cherished and respected.
While Wendy's continued to grow and prosper, Dave knew that he wanted to be more than just a successful businessman. Dave found that he could best give back by using his success, his passion, and his familiar friendly face to raise public awareness about that issue so close to his heart.
His mission took shape in 1990 when President George Bush asked Dave to act as a spokesperson on a new initiative called Adoption Works for Everyone. Dave embraced this honor with enthusiasm and grace, and then he rolled up his sleeves and went to work.
Throughout the next decade, Dave continued his tireless advocacy for children everywhere, and I am proud to have worked shoulder to shoulder with him on many initiatives. He created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, whose vision it is to see that every child has a permanent home and a loving family.
Through the foundation, Dave hoped to ease the many barriers families so often face when trying to adopt. By making adoption easier and more affordable, fewer children are now trapped in the endless foster care system, and more children will grow up with brothers and sisters and moms and dads who love them.
Dave once said, ``If I can get just one child a home, it would be better than selling 1 million hamburgers.'' Oh, how like Dave.
We will remember Dave for his humility and kindness, for his compassion and warmth, and for his dedication to children everywhere who are awaiting a loving family to take them home.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring a dear friend and a champion for children, Dave Thomas.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, at a time when we are questioning corporate leadership and corporate responsibility, it is refreshing to know that a man such as Dave Thomas lived; and because of his life and his legacy, every time a child finds a warm inviting home in which to live and grow up with the safety and security of knowing that they are part of a family, we will remember the legacy of this great American.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 7 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, but, more importantly, at this moment a very close friend of Dave Thomas.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, let me start off by thanking the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for introducing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, Dave Thomas was one of the finest men that I ever knew. Dave was a personal friend of mine. I stayed with him many times when I was in Florida. We played golf together. He loved to play golf. Although he was not the greatest golfer in the world, he was very enthusiastic about it.
The things I want to talk about today are the things I found out about Dave on a personal level. The gentlewoman from Ohio covered so much of his life very, very well.
Let me just say Dave really was an American success story. When he was about 15 years old, he pretty much was on his own in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He dropped out of school. His real parents he never knew. He was adopted by a husband and wife. His adoptive mother died when he was about 12 years old. His father, because he had to move around for jobs, had to pretty much leave Dave in Fort Wayne when he was 15.
Dave, I believe, stayed at the YMCA and worked as a busboy and worked in a restaurant there. After he became manager of the restaurant, as time went by he was asked if he would like to come to Columbus, Ohio, and take over four Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises for somebody who was about to go bankrupt. The fellow told him if you come over here and work with us, in 3 or 4 years we will either be bankrupt or you will own half of the restaurants.
Dave was such a natural at this business and worked so hard that, after a time, he sold his interest in those four Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises for $1.5 million and became involved, as I understand it, with Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips and made some more money and decided to retire at a very young age.
But he wanted one good hamburger restaurant. He said there was not a really good hamburger restaurant that he knew of, so he started one and named it after his daughter, Wendy, in Columbus, Ohio.
The rest is history. As you know, that one restaurant, he only wanted one, ended up being 6,000 restaurants, many of which he owned and his corporation owned, and many franchised out to others. Dave became one of the most successful businessmen in America, and he was a high school dropout.
He owned two jet planes, he had golf courses, he had radio stations, he had everything. He was just an amazing story. In fact, he won the Horatio Alger Award, which, of course, goes to people who have really been a success and realized the American dream. But not only that, he was very concerned about children, as the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) talked about.
When he was a young boy, he did not have a family. He was on his own. He knew how important and how valuable family relationships are to kids, so he worked and spent his whole life trying to make sure that children who did not have parents who were in foster homes got loving parents.
In his restaurants, if you looked at the little pads they put out for people to eat their food off of, all of them told about how you could adopt a child and what needed to be done. He even came to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) and me and worked very hard to get an adoptive stamp passed by the Congress and by the Postal Service and the Postal Stamp Commission that depicted children and talked about adoption so that some of the funds raised from those stamps could go to help children get adopted and get into loving homes.
He even started a golf tournament called the Wendy's Three Tour Challenge, where you had the LPGA, the PGA, and Senior PGA play once a year with a series of teams; and all the proceeds from that tournament went to adoption of children, to his adoption foundation.
He was truly a wonderful, wonderful man. His wife, Lorraine, was always very supportive. I got to know her very well. She is a wonderful lady; and, Lorraine, if you happen to be watching today, my sympathy goes out to you and your children. We are all going to miss Dave. He was a wonderful, wonderful man.
A little story, an aside: I was playing golf one day down at Adios, which is a golf course that he helped found with a man named Ed Tutweiler, down in Florida; and Dave was telling me one day, he said,
``You know, they want me to do TV commercials, and I don't know if I can do those.'' I said, ``Dave, I think you would do a good job.'' I really did not know, but I was trying to give him encouragement. And he became one of the best spokesmen in America for his business.
Everybody in this country knew Dave Thomas. As a matter of fact, he would come to Indianapolis; he came up there to visit a number of times on a speaking engagement. He came to Indianapolis one time, and we were sitting having dinner, when he came up, we always had dinner together, and two ladies came over from my congressional district.
They came over to talk to Dave Thomas and he said, ``Do you know your Congressman?'' They said no, and he introduced my constituents to me. That is how well known he was. He was so well known that people knew him, but they did not even know their own Congressman. He was just an extraordinary man.
I hope that my statements today tell Lorraine and the family and all the people that loved him who are over there in Dublin, Ohio, at the Wendy's headquarters how very much I really loved this guy. What you saw was what you got. When you saw him on TV, he was a lovable guy; and if you got to know him, as I knew him, you knew he was a lovable guy, and he really cared about his fellow man, especially children who did not have parents. The world is going to be a far less place for all of us now that he is gone. It was a far better place for all of us as long as he was here.
The thing that was interesting about Dave is not only was he concerned about adoption, but he was concerned about sending a message to kids that they ought to get a good education. When he was in his sixties, he went back and got his GED; not because he needed it, but because he wanted to set an example for children to get a high school education.
A high school down in Florida where he lived adopted him and had Dave and his wife come as the king and queen of their graduating class at their prom. Dave went with his tuxedo. Here he was, 60-some years old, and he and his wife were the king and queen of the prom. And do you know what? That class voted him the most likely to succeed, and I think it was a good choice.
He was a wonderful man. Dave, I hope you are up there watching us. We love you and we miss you. I am sure that there is a good place in heaven for you.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my neighbor, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), another friend of Dave Thomas.
Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for introducing this resolution. Dave was a special person, and it is a privilege for me to have known Dave and to speak on this resolution today.
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Much has already been said by the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) and others, and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton). Dave received so many awards, too many to mention today. He established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is in central Ohio. He did so much not only for our country and our State, but certainly our community in Columbus, Ohio.
Dave was a man that I got to know when I was in the State legislature. He certainly did many things that people are not even aware of. But the Dave that we meet on TV is the Dave we meet in person. He is one and the same, a very simple man.
One of his highlights, as the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) said, was after 45 years of leaving high school, he received and earned his GED certificate from a high school in Florida, securing him in his mind as a role model for students. But we all know that Dave was a role model. He will be missed. He leaves a long legacy. He is a gentle giant and a great American.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), my distinguished colleague.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. I certainly do rise in recognition of David Thomas and support this resolution honoring his life.
When he passed away on January 8, the world lost a great advocate for children. While so many know him as a dedicated businessman, his greatest accomplishment to many of us was the difference he made in the lives of so many vulnerable children. I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for introducing this resolution. She indeed knows full well the values of adoption. I as a parent who, with my husband, have raised 9 children, 6 who were the children of my late sister, have become a great advocate for Dave Thomas and for the story and the message that he told that reached millions.
With his corporate relationships, he encouraged the practice of adoption incentives through employee benefits plans. Approximately 50,000 children are adopted nationwide each year. According to the State Department's annual report, the number of international adoptions is steadily increasing every year. According to Adoptions Forever, an adoption agency in Maryland, the average cost of adoption for an international orphan ranges up to $30,000, while a domestic adoption can range up to $12,000. Easing the burden of this cost can make all the difference for families who are considering adoption, and Dave Thomas worked tirelessly to minimize these barriers to helping children in need.
Almost 10 years ago, he founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which continues to serve as the voice for the more than 134,000 children in the public welfare system who are awaiting permanent homes. His foundation also concentrates on children who may be harder to place, older kids, those in sibling groups, minority children, or those with physical or mental handicaps.
Dave Thomas will be missed in Congress as well. His testimony on adoption tax credits, adoption legislation, and his advocacy for the creation of the adoption stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service in May of 2000 has been key in raising necessary awareness and support. Children have lost a hero in Dave Thomas, but his legacy will live on through his foundation, continuing the mission of ensuring every child has a permanent and loving home.
Children in need are the responsibility of us all. We owe a great deal to Dave Thomas for his dedication to that message. I offer my condolences to his family and I certainly support this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to do so. Again, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for introducing it, and certainly the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for handling it on the Democratic side, and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Waxman) for having this come out at this time.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In closing, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), for giving me the opportunity to express my admiration for this extraordinary man. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for joining me in honoring Dave's life.
We have lost a good friend, a good friend to this country, a good friend to each of us, and a good friend to so many children waiting for a home. While we mourn his loss, we should feel proud of his accomplishments and empowered by his mission. As a society, we can remember Dave by working towards increasing public awareness of the need for adoption. As Members of Congress, we can continue to look for ways to cut through the red tape that often stands in the way of encouraging families to even consider adoption, and as individuals, we can recognize and appreciate the power of one man's determination to make a difference.
Dave once reminded us that children who do not have families are not somebody else's responsibility, they are our responsibility. If we want to make a difference in a child's life, this is where we must start. Dave's charisma, passion, and dedication help lead us on our way. It is now up to each of us to carry on Dave's mission and to continue fighting for these kids.
Dave, you singlehandedly made this world a better place. We will miss you.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for this Resolution which recognizes Rex David ``Dave'' Thomas as one of the hardest working advocates for child adoption in our great nation.
Adopted shortly after his birth in 1932, Dave went on to great commercial success after founding Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. In promoting Wendy's, Dave became a national figure representing a friendly face, great food, and a kind sense of humor. On a personal note, I would be remiss were I not to mention that my staff and I are particularly grateful to Dave for the advent of the Wendy's Frosty. Much more importantly, however, Dave used his financial success to promote and advance the cause of child adoption. It is for that reason that we honor Dave today.
In 1992, Dave established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to work with national adoption organizations to promote awareness and to facilitate child adoption. From 1990 until 2000, Dave was the national spokesman for a number of White House adoption and foster-care initiatives. He was a most deserving recipient of the distinguished Angel in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, and the Social Awareness Award from the U.S. Postal Service.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we honor Dave today with this Resolution, but it is my belief that we can do Dave no greater honor than by keeping his legacy alive as we in Congress press on towards the common goal we shared with Dave: making sure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe home with loving parents.
My thoughts and prayers are with Dave's family.
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a great American, Dave Thomas, who passed away at the age of 69 on January 8, 2002. I am honored to be an original cosponsor of this resolution that honors his life and expresses the deepest condolences of the House of Representatives to his family on his death.
I had the privilege of knowing, working with and, in fact, representing Dave Thomas in Congress. But most importantly, I had the honor of calling Dave my friend.
Dave Thomas was the epitome of the American success story. He worked his way from humble roots to be an icon of business achievement. What I admired and respected most about Dave was what he did with his success. Inspired by his own experiences as an adopted child, he poured his heart and his influence into helping children find families. A giant in the arena of adoption, Dave gave a voice to thousands of children looking for loving homes through his Foundation for Adoption and his contributions to the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law at Capital University.
As the former Chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee, I had the honor of having Dave testify before my panel on two occasions. Dave was both an advocate and an authority on adoption, whose input was invaluable as I drafted legislation to improve adoption policies. He was a pioneer in developing adoption friendly corporate practices, giving his employees who adopted children special benefits.
I join his family, the House of Representatives and thousands of children around America who are waiting to be adopted, to honor the life of this great man.
Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and recognize the accomplishments and life of Dave Thomas.
Throughout his life, Dave Thomas continually displayed the qualities and work ethic that exemplified the American dream. Whether with his family, friends, or his work, Dave Thomas always sought to improve the way of life for those around him. Having been adopted at a young age, Dave Thomas devoted much of his life to raising awareness and creating better opportunities for adopted children everywhere.
As a fellow restaurateur and small businessman, I can certainly appreciate the devotion and hard work necessary to turn the first Wendy's Old Fashion Hamburgers in downtown Columbus, OH, into something people worldwide know and love. Behind his business expertise and a promotional campaign driven by his warm smile, Wendy's has become a standard to which all other restaurants must be compared.
As I travel around Ohio, the birthplace and home of the Wendy's tradition, I will be constantly reminded of just how many lives Dave Thomas has actually touched. Whether I am visiting one of the several Wendy's locations within Ohio's Seventh Congressional District, or affixing an Adoption Awareness stamp on an envelope, Dave Thomas will be in my thoughts and will be missed dearly.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for the resolution before us today, which recognizes the valuable contributions of Wendy's Founder, R. David Thomas.
Born in 1932 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dave Thomas never knew his birth parents, and was adopted when he was six weeks young. One of Dave's most cherished childhood memories was eating out at restaurants. Thus, as a young man, he committed himself to opening up his own restaurant where families could enjoy eating and spending time together. On November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas founded Wendy's Old-
Fashioned Hamburgers in Columbus, Ohio, and transformed it into one of the most successful food franchises in the country.
Mr. Thomas was much more than a successful businessman, however. He never forgot his roots, and he used his financial success to promote and advocate the cause of adoption. In 1990, Former President George H. W. Bush asked Mr. Thomas to be a spokesperson for his administration's adoption initiative, ``Adoption Works. . .For Everyone.'' Mr. Thomas gracefully accepted the challenge, and began to speak out and encourage people to consider adoption. The Wendy's corporation championed adoption as its national charitable cause, while taking a corporate leadership role in advancing the cause of adoption by encouraging other corporations to offer family leave and adoption benefits to employees who welcomed and adopted a child into their family.
In conjunction with National Adoption Month every November, over 6,000 Wendy's North American restaurants undertake an aggressive advertising campaign advocating the cause of adoption. These widely successful adoption efforts, such as public service announcements tray-
liners an posters account for approximately 40 percent of all calls taken at the National Adoption Center's toll free number (1-800-TO-
ADOPT).
Dave's personal contributions of time, money and initiative to the cause of adoption have been equally successful. Dave donated all of the proceeds from his 1991 autobiography Dave's Way and his 1995 book Well Done! to the foundation.
Then in 1992, Mr. Thomas founded The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a nonprofit organization that supports over 134,000 children in America's foster care system waiting for permanent and loving homes.
Virtually every well-conducted social research study that has examined the impact of adoption on a child concludes that adoption is far more preferable than state custody. The adoption of a child into a traditional two-parent, man and woman family, has profoundly positive social benefits for the child and family as well as for our society.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all members of Congress to support the Dave Thomas Resolution. America has lost an important champion for children with the death of Dave Thomas. It is fitting and appropriate that we honor his good deeds today. We all hope and pray that his good work will continue on, despite his passing.
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 336.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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