Dave Thomas's Childhood
Dave Thomas was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 2, 1932. Rex and Auleva
Thomas adopted him at six weeks old. When Dave was five, Auleva died and his early
years were spent moving from state to state while his adoptive father sought work.
Dave’s fondest memories of his childhood included summers spent with his Grandma
Minnie Sinclair in Michigan. She taught him about doing the right things, treating people
well and important lessons about quality and service – all things he later used in his
business life.
Dave got his first job at age 12 as a counterman at a Knoxville restaurant, and fell
in love with the restaurant business. When he was 15, he found work at the Hobby
House Restaurant in Ft. Wayne. It was then that he made what he considered his greatest
mistake: he dropped out of school to work full-time. His father and stepfamily were
preparing to move again and Dave decided to stay in Ft. Wayne, move into the YMCA
and work full-time. This decision to drop out haunted him until he went back to school 45
years later and received his GED from Coconut Creek High School in Ft. Lauderdale. He
said this was one of his greatest accomplishments, as was being named “Most Likely to Succeed” by the graduating class of 1993.
Thomas adopted him at six weeks old. When Dave was five, Auleva died and his early
years were spent moving from state to state while his adoptive father sought work.
Dave’s fondest memories of his childhood included summers spent with his Grandma
Minnie Sinclair in Michigan. She taught him about doing the right things, treating people
well and important lessons about quality and service – all things he later used in his
business life.
Dave got his first job at age 12 as a counterman at a Knoxville restaurant, and fell
in love with the restaurant business. When he was 15, he found work at the Hobby
House Restaurant in Ft. Wayne. It was then that he made what he considered his greatest
mistake: he dropped out of school to work full-time. His father and stepfamily were
preparing to move again and Dave decided to stay in Ft. Wayne, move into the YMCA
and work full-time. This decision to drop out haunted him until he went back to school 45
years later and received his GED from Coconut Creek High School in Ft. Lauderdale. He
said this was one of his greatest accomplishments, as was being named “Most Likely to Succeed” by the graduating class of 1993.