S. Truett Cathy (1921-2014) was just such a person, who grew up in poverty during the Great Depression to become a steadfast and unmovable masterwork of God.
At age eight he started his own business, inspired by a woman in his Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood. She sold cupcakes from her front yard.
M-m-m. What could I sell to earn some money? Truett wondered.
The answer: soft drinks. He purchased six bottles for a quarter and sold them for a nickel apiece. Just twenty six-packs, he figured, and I’ll have a whole dollar.
Truett quickly realized he could expand sales by enticing the door-to-door salesmen with cold drinks. He began to serve ice with the soda.
Soon the young entrepreneur had saved four dollars—enough to buy an old bicycle. Now he could make quicker profits by delivering newspapers. But competition for customers was stiff with three well-established papers in Atlanta.
Truett had learned the value of customer satisfaction, however, so he made sure his papers landed on porches. On rainy days he put them inside the screen doors, and his customer list grew.
Truett delivered papers until high school graduation, after which he was drafted into the Army. Upon honorable discharge in 1945, Truett returned home to pursue his lifelong dream: owning a business.
He decided to open a restaurant, knowing a bit about cooking for a crowd. For years he’d helped his mother as she daily prepared meals not only for their family of nine but also for six boarders.
Truett and his younger brother Ben pooled their resources, took out a loan and bought a piece of land near a Ford assembly plant and Delta Airlines at the airport which provided a large customer base.
The tiny restaurant, aptly named the Dwarf Grill, included just ten counter stools and four tables. The brothers served quick-to-fix burgers and steaks.
They worked hard and the business thrived. But in 1949 tragedy struck. Ben, another brother, and two friends were killed.
Later Truett would remark, “I lost two brothers in an airplane crash, both of them leaving a wife and kids. When I get to heaven, that’s probably the first question I’d like to ask: Why was it necessary?”[1]
The heartbreak did not erode Truett’s strong faith in God, which had been inspired by his devout mother and nurtured by Sunday School teacher and life-long mentor, Theo Abbey.
Then more trouble ensued. In 1959 Truett was diagnosed with colon cancer. In an interview he explained that just prior to the successful surgery he experienced a new peace, knowing that whether he lived or died, he would be with God.[2] God granted another fifty-six years.
In 1960 the second restaurant burned to the ground, and then the original Dwarf Grill caught fire in 1965. But instead of becoming discouraged, Truett leaned on his God, growing stronger in faith and more determined than ever.
With only one restaurant to oversee, he focused his time on developing the menu. Truett remembered his mother’s impressive fried chicken, how she seasoned it the night before and put it in the ice box to marinate.
He experimented with recipes, tried his efforts on regular customers and soon created a new menu item: the Chick-fil-A sandwich—a play on the word fillet, but also indicating the meat was grade A.
Customers loved the new sandwich, and in 1967, Truett opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant. One successful opening followed another until, in the year 2000, the restaurant chain grossed one billion dollars in sales. By 2018, it surpassed $10 billion in sales.
–based on Biblical principles.)
Today, the company generates more revenue per restaurant than any other fast-food chain, even though all locations are closed on Sundays. (Since his first day in the restaurant business, Truett set aside that day for his employees and himself “to rest and worship if they choose.”[3])
Truett’s commitment to put God first is expressed in the company’s statement of purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”[4]
Truett also delighted to glorify God by spending his fortune to encourage others.
How do you identify someone who needs encouragement?
That person is breathing.
–Truett Cathy
Since 1973, Chick-fil-A has given more than $35 million in college scholarships to its employees. Truett also founded the WinShape Foundation, providing approximately $18 million dollars for the development of foster homes and summer camps.
His legacy of planting Christian ideals in the lives of others continues, even though Masterwork Samuel Truett Cathy now resides in heaven. (He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, three children, eighteen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.)
[1] https://www.quotetab.com/quote/by-s-truett-cathy/i-lost-two-brothers-in-an-airplane-crash-both-of-them-leaving-a-wife-and-kids-w
[2] https://www.11alive.com/article/news/thank-you-god-that-im-alive-in-book-chick-fil-a-founder-s-truett-cathy-shared-faith-affirming-brush-with-mortality/85-48c52862-7a53-4167-9e7a-1a37bd8d6185
[3] https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/inside-chick-fil-a/secret-menus-and-closed-on-sundays-chick-fil-a-fact-or-fiction
[4] https://billygraham.org/story/a-conversation-with-truett-cathy
Other Sources:
http://www.academicstar.us/UploadFile/Picture/2015-7/20157331854318.pdf
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/311452
http://www.giantsforgod.com/s-truett-cathy/
https://www.thextraordinary.org/s-truett-cathy
Photo credits: http://www.pixhive.com; http://www.quotefancy.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.samiskelton.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.pxfuel.com.
From the Inside Out 
I did not know that story Nancy. Spurgeon was sure correct on Truett. What a great testament of following and honoring God in one’s work and ethics.
I didn’t know Truett Cathy’s story either, Gary. The more I learned, the more impressed I became with his example of Christian faith lived with a passion.
A great Christian, a great success story, and still the best chicken sandwich in the world.
We’re Chick-fil-A fans too, Rob! I knew the founder was a Christian, but didn’t know his story–not even his name. The research made fascinating and inspiring reading!
Wow!This is simply a motivating post for those who give up very easily and grumble for the difficulties of life.Thank you very much for sharing an example to grow even in adverse situations by dint of indomitable perseverance.God bless.Take care.🙏💐
You’re welcome, Francis. I couldn’t agree more that Truett provides a worthy example of “indomitable perseverance” for us to follow!
Yes indeed.God bless.Take care.🙏💐
I did not know that story, my friend. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, Brenda. I didn’t know his story either, and am glad I did the research. He’s a Christian hero well worth knowing!
Great read. I learned much. Especially love Mr Cathy’s comment on identifying a person who needs encouragement.
So glad you enjoyed the post, Benita. Isn’t that a great quote about encouragement? And I’m so glad you reminded me–I want to copy his quotes into my journal and haven’t done so yet!
Great post. I’m fantastic with Truett Cathy and have read his book, but hadn’t seen “Truett’s Desk.” The quote about anyone who’s breathing needs encouragement is awesome! Thanks, Nancy. I am inspired.
That quote made me smile with its humor, but it states strong truth too. So glad you found inspiration here, even though you knew Truett’s story!
His story is so inspiring! I didn’t know the whole story. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Mary. I didn’t know ANY of his story. As I said to Gary above, the more I learned about Truett, the more impressed I became with his example of Christian faith lived with a passion. His story inspires me too.
Thanks for sharing such a detailed account. The blessing, (not the devil) is in the details!
You’re welcome, Pastor Pete. I’m so glad you found blessing in the details!
I am familiar with his story, and what a story it is. Thank you for sharing, Nancy!
You’re welcome, Pam. Did you learn his story from reading one of his books? If I remember correctly, he wrote five.
Hi Nancy, I haven’t read his books. I heard much of his story many years ago and I don’t remember who or where.
Such an inspiring weave of determination and faith. I recognized the name but I didn’t know the details of Cathy’s faith journey. In this day and age, it’s remarkable a business can be closed on Sunday yet still be so successful. And go figure – my wife & I always seem to want Chick-fil-A on a Sunday!
God surely blessed Truett Cathy, at least partly because Cathy took such unabashed delight in God (Psalm 37:4-5). As for your last comment, Murphy’s Law strikes again!
Love this history – didn’t know the background of one of my favorite restaurants. Thanks!!
You’re welcome, Jean. I enjoyed learning about Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A too!
Reading this brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful testimony Cathy’s steadfast faith in God demonstrates. I knew that the founder was a Christian, but had never heard the story. I’ve always wished we had one of these Chick-fil-A franchises in my town!
I’m so glad Cathy’s story touched your heart, Cheri. As for getting a Chick-fil-A where you live, maybe one of your nieces or nephews would like to invest in a franchise!
Nancy,
He truly made an impact. Love the story of faith.
Thanks,
Gary
So glad you enjoyed his story, Gary. I enjoyed learning about him too as I completed the research. Such stalwart faith!
Wow! What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing this encouraging post! And I especially love that he always kept his Faith in God throughout his life, despite the trials he faced.
I love that too, Bridget. It’s one thing to stay positive when everything is going well; it’s totally another when everything seems to go wrong. I’m still on the learning curve for living in God’s joy no matter what!
I think it’s a lifelong journey for most of us!
Thank you Nancy for sharing S. Truett Cathey’s story. What a wonderful man and such a great story. You passed on a truly Golden story for us to read.
Cathy IS an inspiring figure. It was a joy researching about him; I’m glad you enjoyed his golden story too!
What a wonderful testimony of faithfulness! He is inspirational!
So glad you found wonder and inspiration here, Lisa!
Never heard this story before, Nancy. What an encouragement! (And what a whiner I often am!) No obstacle should ever stop us.
I hadn’t heard Cathy’s story either–just knew he was a Christian and that’s why Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays. I too found great encouragement from his reliance upon God, his perseverance, and his desire to do all for the glory of God. A wonderful role model for sure!