In the mid-1950s, KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders came to Fort Wayne in order to find restaurateurs to try to sell KFC franchises to them. The restaurant where Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas worked as the head cook went into business with Col. Sanders after he had refused to initially. Thomas was innovative and his suggestions helped ailing KFC stores to become profitable.

By 1968, Thomas had increased sales in 4 KFC restaurants so much that he sold his share back to Sanders for more than $1.5 million. Using this money, he founded Wendy’s the next year, naming it after his 8-year-old daughter, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas.