Chick-Fil-A Founder Dead at 93
S. Truett Cathy was famously anti-gay marriage.

Mandel Ngan / Getty
S. Truett Cathy, the billionaire behind the popular fast-food chain Chick-Fil-A who became a prominent opponent of gay marriage, passed away Monday. Cathy, who was 93, proudly built the Southern-based chain in line with his Christian faith, closing his shops on Sundays and starting Monday mornings with optional devotionals in the corporate office. The Cathy family became nationally known for its anti-gay-marriage views when it was revealed it donated millions of dollars to groups opposing same-sex marriage. “Well, guilty as charged. We are very much supportive of the family, the biblical definition of the family unit,” said Cathy’s son Dan, when asked about the donations. His comments sparked a national controversy, as gay-rights activists staged kiss-ins at Chick Fil-A restaurants and former presidential candidate Rick Santorum famously threw his support behind the chain. Dan Cathy later apologized for his comments, and through the controversy, Chick-Fil-A’s sales thrived.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.