The founder of Chick-fil-A, a man known as much for his religious beliefs as his entrepreneurial work, died Monday, The New York Daily News reported.
S. Truett Cathy was an Atlanta-based businessman who turned a secret chicken sandwich recipe into an empire of 1,800 restaurants in 40 states. He died at home at age 93, the company announced.
Cathy built Chick-fil-A upon a mix of customer service and his Southern Baptist faith, closing the restaurant chain on Sundays. He retired as chairman and CEO in November 2013.
"I'd like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order,'' Cathy is quoted as saying on the company website, according to the Daily News. "We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed. I have always encouraged my restaurant operators and team members to give back to the local community. We should be about more than just selling chicken, we should be a part of our customers' lives and the communities in which we serve."
Cathy's son, Dan, who currently runs the family-owned company, created a firestorm in 2012 when he condemned same-sex marriage. An LGBT kiss-in to protest the fast food chain was overshadowed by a huge turnout for "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."
The family-owned business has said it has had 46 consecutive years of positive sales growth. Cathy's $6 billion fortune as the founder of Chick-fil-A puts him on the yearly Forbes magazine list of the wealthiest Americans. The family-owned company has listed him on its website as its chairman emeritus after he left daily operations to younger generations, according to USA Today.
Truett Cathy began his career in the restaurant business by opening an Atlanta diner called The Dwarf Grill with his brother in 1946. It was named for the short and stout shape of the restaurant.
He has attributed his hardworking nature - even as a little boy he made money by selling six bottles of Coca-Cola for a quarter - to growing up in poverty.
