S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, died on Monday, September 8, at the age of 93. He died peacefully at his home in Clayton County, Georgia.
What started as a simple idea – a breaded, boneless chicken breast on a buttered bun with pickles – turned into a billion dollar empire throughout the course of Cathy’s life. Despite the fame and fortune, Cathy never once lost sight of his strong Christian faith and always ran his business according to Biblical principles.
Most notably, all Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays, giving employees the opportunity to attend church and spend quality time with their families. When asked why he chose to close his restaurants on Sundays, Cathy told the Atlantic Journal-Constitution, “It’s a silent witness to the Lord when people go into shopping malls, and everyone is bustling, and you see that Chick-fil-A is closed.”
Even from a young age Cathy had a mind for business – at the age of 8, he was already selling bottled Coca-Cola out of his front yard. He always had a strong work ethic, something that he learned early on in life from his hard-working parents. Money was tight in his family, especially during the Great Depression, but they always managed to get by through hard work and determination.
After the Great Depression, Cathy served in the United States Army during World War II. Upon returning home from war, he started what would become Chick-fil-A in the Atlanta suburb of Hapeville with a restaurant called the Dwarf Grill. It was there that he and his business partner/brother Ben created the popular chicken sandwich destined to become the main menu item for Chick-fil-A.
Cathy was an honorable man of God who never compromised on his faith. He always put God first, and was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He has left an incredible legacy for not only his children and grandchildren, but for everyone in the business world. He left his mark, and his strong Christian legacy will continue to live on through the uncompromising values of Chick-fil-A’s all across the country.
Please join Daystar in praying for S. Truett Cathy’s family during this difficult time.
In Memory of S. Truett Cathy