Evangelical Chick-Fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy Dies At 93
S. Truett Cathy, the evangelical founder of the famous Chick-fil-A restaurant chain, died Monday morning at the age of 93.
"[Cathy] died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones," Chick-fil-A said in a statement posted to its website on Monday.
Cathy, known for his evangelical Christian beliefs, founded his first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia in 1947. By 1967, Cathy had started his own corporation, and the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain has now expanded to 1,800 locations in 39 states.
The restaurant, which is worth $5 billion today, became known for its simple boneless fried chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and Polynesian dipping sauce. The restaurant gained a strong conservative following, especially in the south, for being closed on Sundays as a sign of respect for the Bible and a day of rest for employees.
Chick-fil-A has not had a controversy-free record, however. In 2012, the restaurant chain faced boycotts and protests after Dan Cathy, son to Truett and current chairman of the company, told the Baptist Press that he and his family were "guilty as charged" in supporting traditional marriage over same-sex marriage.
"We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles," Cathy said during the 2012 interview.
Although some groups did express their disapproval of Cathy's statements through boycotts and kiss-ins, the company also saw a surge in support from Christians across the country who agreed with their religious views or simply their ability to freely express their faith. National "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Days" drew thousands to the fried chicken chain across the country.
