[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 336 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      January 29, 2002.
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.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.