Wallace “Wally” Amos, the man behind the beloved Famous Amos cookie brand, has passed away at 88. Wally died at his home in Honolulu on Tuesday, August 13, due to complications from dementia, according to his children, Shawn and Sarah Amos.
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1936, Wally moved to Harlem as a teenager to live with his aunt, Della Bryant. After dropping out of high school, he earned his G.E.D. and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1957.
Wally’s career began far from the baking world. He made his mark in the entertainment industry as the first Black talent agent at William Morris Agency in 1957, where he signed rising stars like Simon and Garfunkel and the Supremes.
Wally’s love for baking started as a hobby after moving to the West Coast in 1967. What began as a way to unwind quickly turned into a business opportunity. With support from friends like Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy, who invested $25,000, Wally opened the first Famous Amos Cookie Company store on Sunset Boulevard in 1975. His cookies, known for their natural ingredients and preservative-free recipe, quickly gained popularity. Within five years, the business grew to generate $12 million in revenue and expanded to multiple stores nationwide.
Wally’s warm personality and distinctive Panama hat became symbols of the Famous Amos brand. His contributions to entrepreneurship were recognized in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan awarded him one of the first Awards of Entrepreneurial Excellence.
In 1988, financial difficulties led to the sale of Famous Amos for $3 million. The brand, now owned by the Ferrero Group, continued to grow, though Wally lost the rights to his name and likeness. He went on to create other baking ventures, including Uncle Noname, Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., and the Cookie Kahuna.
Beyond his business endeavors, Wally was passionate about literacy. In 1981, he became a spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America, advocating for adult reading education. He also authored several books, including The Cookie Never Crumbles and The Path to Success is Paved with Positive Thinking.
Wally Amos is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christine Harris Amos, and his four children, Shawn, Sarah, Gregory, and Michael.
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