[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 2 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S93]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DAVE THOMAS

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to support the Senate 
resolution honoring Dave Thomas, founder of the successful Wendy's 
restaurants. His death is a loss to the business and entrepreneurial 
world, the most powerful engine in the American economy. He opened 
doors for thousands of young people who used Wendy's as entry-level 
employment that launched their future. He was a symbol and shining 
example of leadership that one could be proud to be associated with. 
But this man was more than Wendy's. The sign that carried Wendy's logo 
stood for more than just tasty, square hamburgers. The little freckled-
faced girl represented much more.
  I knew Dave through the Shrine of North America. As a Shriner, he 
exhibited his dedication to children across this country by supporting 
the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children and the three Shrine Burn 
Centers. He was a living example of the phrase, ``No man stands so tall 
that stoops to help a kid.'' He had a passion for thousands of children 
who are caught in the circumstance of adoption. He was an adopted child 
and he never forgot his roots or the wonder of parental love.
  As an adopted child himself, Dave served as a credible spokesman for 
both Republican and Democrat White House administrations on numerous 
adoption initiatives between 1990 and 2000. Using proceeds from two 
books and many speaking engagements, Dave founded the Dave Thomas 
Foundation for Adoption in 1992 to work with families wishing to adopt 
children. Dave also worked with national adoption agencies to raise 
awareness about children who are waiting for adoption. Dave went on to 
create the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law to facilitate the 
adoption process through education and research.
  Dave was also a driving force in persuading corporate America to 
reshape their policies to help cover the adoption expenses of 
employees. Thanks to his efforts, three out of four of the Fortune 1000 
companies now offer adoption benefits to employees.
  Yesterday was the anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark 
decision in the Roe v. Wade case. As everyone knows, I support the 
rights of America's unborn. I recognize, however, that in today's 
society, unwanted pregnancies will continue to occur. Rather than 
taking an innocent life, I urge Americans to embrace adoption as an 
alternative to abortion.
  Dave never forgot his good fortune and he willingly gave his time and 
financial resources to make us, as Americans, aware of the less 
fortunate. All for a kid. We who know him are better for it. Thousands 
of kids find themselves in better circumstances because of him and the 
passion that lived deep in his heart. What a legacy.
  Along with the sponsors of this resolution, I simply want to thank 
Dave for making the world a better place for thousands of adopted 
children and also to send my sympathy to his family.

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