Entrepreneur. He was the founder of the Sonic Drive-In food chain, formerly known as Top Hat. Raised in east-central Oklahoma, he served in the Army Air Corps during the World War II, before returning home to Oklahoma where he worked as a milk and bread delivery man. Between 1948 and 1953 he operated a handful of restaurants in the rural Oklahoma area. In 1953 he purchased the Top Hat root beer stand in the town of Shawnee, operating it in partnership with co-founder Charlie Pappe. The business soon expanded into the neighboring communities of Woodward, Enid and Stillwater, before becoming a national food chain. He became one of the first fast food services to offer covered angled parking for customer privacy, and an intercom system allowing diners to order food from the comfort of their cars. In 1960 he changed the name of the company from Top Hat to Sonic, to reflect the motto "Service with the Speed of Sound." He was a major philanthropist and benefactor, providing millions of dollars in financial assistance to the University of Central Oklahoma, and the communities of Shawnee and Edmond, Oklahoma. At the time of his death, nearly 3,600 Sonic franchises were in operation across the United States, providing food services in 42 states.
Entrepreneur. He was the founder of the Sonic Drive-In food chain, formerly known as Top Hat. Raised in east-central Oklahoma, he served in the Army Air Corps during the World War II, before returning home to Oklahoma where he worked as a milk and bread delivery man. Between 1948 and 1953 he operated a handful of restaurants in the rural Oklahoma area. In 1953 he purchased the Top Hat root beer stand in the town of Shawnee, operating it in partnership with co-founder Charlie Pappe. The business soon expanded into the neighboring communities of Woodward, Enid and Stillwater, before becoming a national food chain. He became one of the first fast food services to offer covered angled parking for customer privacy, and an intercom system allowing diners to order food from the comfort of their cars. In 1960 he changed the name of the company from Top Hat to Sonic, to reflect the motto "Service with the Speed of Sound." He was a major philanthropist and benefactor, providing millions of dollars in financial assistance to the University of Central Oklahoma, and the communities of Shawnee and Edmond, Oklahoma. At the time of his death, nearly 3,600 Sonic franchises were in operation across the United States, providing food services in 42 states.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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