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Call Me Dave: Behind the Counter with Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy's
"A powerful tribute to our dad-a man who gave everything he had to make Wendy's one of the greatest hamburger chains in the world. He poured that same passion into a foundation dedicated to helping thousands of foster children find permanent, loving homes. This is his inspiring story." -Pamela Thomas, eldest daughter of Dave and Lorraine Thomas and Wendy's franchisee
Dave Thomas turned a boyhood dream of owning a hamburger stand into a worldwide success story. He proved that honesty, integrity, friendliness, and hard work never go out of style. Denny Lynch, Dave's close friend and former Wendy's SVP of communications, offers an intimate look at the man behind the apron, tracing Dave's rise from a determined young busboy to one of America's most beloved spokesmen. Featuring personal reflections and anecdotes from his wife, daughters, employees, friends, and Wendy herself (who also narrated the Foreword), Call Me Dave explores Dave's quest to build the nation's best hamburger chain while staying true to his principles. Dave never forgot where he came from and created a second legacy-the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-dedicated to finding loving homes for more than 130,000 children lingering in the foster care system.
BONUS AUDIOBOOK Hear directly from Dave himself on topics from entrepreneurship to his personal adoption story in exclusive content from Dave's autobiography.
Dave Thomas turned a boyhood dream of owning a hamburger stand into a worldwide success story. He proved that honesty, integrity, friendliness, and hard work never go out of style. Denny Lynch, Dave's close friend and former Wendy's SVP of communications, offers an intimate look at the man behind the apron, tracing Dave's rise from a determined young busboy to one of America's most beloved spokesmen. Featuring personal reflections and anecdotes from his wife, daughters, employees, friends, and Wendy herself (who also narrated the Foreword), Call Me Dave explores Dave's quest to build the nation's best hamburger chain while staying true to his principles. Dave never forgot where he came from and created a second legacy-the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-dedicated to finding loving homes for more than 130,000 children lingering in the foster care system.
BONUS AUDIOBOOK Hear directly from Dave himself on topics from entrepreneurship to his personal adoption story in exclusive content from Dave's autobiography.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 4, 2026
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A very favorable biography of the man that started the Wendy's restaurant chain.
There doesn't seem to be the bitterness here that is in the In and Out Burger biographies.
A very favorable biography of the man that started the Wendy's restaurant chain.
There doesn't seem to be the bitterness here that is in the In and Out Burger biographies.
October 22, 2026
Loved this peak into his life growing up from nothing to giving back to others ♥️
September 1, 2026
i loved this book! I have loved Dave Thomas since my hometown built a Wendy's restaurant. The stories are a unique look into the life of someone who many saw as a father figure, adoption advocate, and the guy next door.
as i was reading, the stories brought up many of my own memories.
-the commercials (my parents and i still quote the commercial with people coming in from the
cold and only Dave understand what they are asking for..."brrrr!" "baked potato?")
-visiting the original location with my girl scout troop after visiting cosi.
-visiting my aunt at the Wendy's she helped manage.
-and so many more.
i enjoyed learning a little more of the way dave thought and why 'dave's way' is very important to the company as a whole.
**kindle edition**
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
as i was reading, the stories brought up many of my own memories.
-the commercials (my parents and i still quote the commercial with people coming in from the
cold and only Dave understand what they are asking for..."brrrr!" "baked potato?")
-visiting the original location with my girl scout troop after visiting cosi.
-visiting my aunt at the Wendy's she helped manage.
-and so many more.
i enjoyed learning a little more of the way dave thought and why 'dave's way' is very important to the company as a whole.
**kindle edition**
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
August 17, 2026
Call Me Dave: Behind the Counter with Dave Thomas by Denny Lynch is a fascinating behind the scenes peak at the founder of Wendy's.
From a less than ideal childhood, Dave made the most of opportunities, good mentors and hard work. The book was filled with personal stories and anecdotes from family, friends, employees and even Wendy herself. Despite amassing great fame and fortune, Dave never forgot where he came from, and made sure to give back wherever he could.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Koehler books in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I loved the pictures that were included, and how there was even a website mentioned where you could watch some of the famous commercials mentioned in the book. As a pin collector, I love all the mentions of the pins and how they became a symbol of status and pride. The KFC connection surprised me, but it doesn't surprise me that they remained friends. I also liked learning more about the Dave Thomas Foundation for adoption.
#callmedave #netgalley #wendys
From a less than ideal childhood, Dave made the most of opportunities, good mentors and hard work. The book was filled with personal stories and anecdotes from family, friends, employees and even Wendy herself. Despite amassing great fame and fortune, Dave never forgot where he came from, and made sure to give back wherever he could.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Koehler books in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
I loved the pictures that were included, and how there was even a website mentioned where you could watch some of the famous commercials mentioned in the book. As a pin collector, I love all the mentions of the pins and how they became a symbol of status and pride. The KFC connection surprised me, but it doesn't surprise me that they remained friends. I also liked learning more about the Dave Thomas Foundation for adoption.
#callmedave #netgalley #wendys
July 22, 2026
Call Me Dave truly captures the essence of Dave. Denny skillfully blends engaging storytelling with insightful lessons on leadership, relationships, humility, and integrity. The writing is both compelling and authentic, making the book difficult to put down.
What truly sets this book apart is that Denny isn’t writing about someone he admired from afar—he’s writing about a longtime colleague and close friend. That personal connection brings an authenticity and depth to the stories that simply couldn’t be captured any other way. You can feel the respect, admiration, and genuine affection throughout the book, making the lessons even more impactful.
What truly sets this book apart is that Denny isn’t writing about someone he admired from afar—he’s writing about a longtime colleague and close friend. That personal connection brings an authenticity and depth to the stories that simply couldn’t be captured any other way. You can feel the respect, admiration, and genuine affection throughout the book, making the lessons even more impactful.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews