Hooters chairman Brooks found dead

AP ^ | 07/16/06

[nypokerface]

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Robert Brooks, the chairman of Hooters of America, Inc. who made his fortune selling chicken wings served by scantily clad waitresses, was found dead at his home Sunday, officials said. He was 69.

It was unclear how Brooks died, but the Horry County coroner's office told The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News that an autopsy would be performed Monday.

Several calls to the coroner's office by The Associated Press were unanswered.

Chris Hardwick, owner of Hardwick Funeral Home of Loris, told the AP he was handling Brooks' funeral arrangements.

Since opening its first store in Clearwater, Florida, in 1983, the chain has expanded across the United States and into more than a dozen foreign countries ranging from Taiwan to Venezuela. Hooters has about 61 million annual visitors to its some 425 restaurants.

Brooks, born on a tobacco farm outside Loris near Myrtle Beach, founded Eastern Foods Inc., which makes dressings and sauces, in 1966.

With a group of Atlanta investors, Brooks bought expansion and franchise rights for the Hooters chain in 1984. He eventually bought majority control and became chairman.

Brooks was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 1996, according to the company's Web site.

Area business leaders remembered Brooks as a sharp businessman with a down-home flair, who never forgot where he came from.

"Whenever I saw him, the first question and usually the last question from him was, 'What can I do to help ya?'" said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

He also shared his wealth, giving $2 million to Coastal Carolina University for its first football stadium, which was named Brooks Stadium in 2003.

[muawiyah]

Waiting on the report they've found the missing chicken bone.

[digger48]

Now this is a thread that has possibilities.

[Jet Jaguar]

ping.

[muawiyah]

There's a three story Hooters in Vista, California.

THREE STORIES!!!

This man had a marvelous business plan. He will be missed.

[al baby]

HE WAS 69 ?

[Firefigher NC]

Wow. The Hooters chairman dying at 69.

[twinzmommy]

1966 birthdate but69 years old? I'm so confused! *laugh*

[armymarinemom]

Horry County coroner's office

Sorry but reading the county name made me laugh.

[digger48]

[kcar]

Maybe he actually ate the food?

[null and void]

Any pictures?

[dirtboy]

I think we found the cause of death. He must have seen that photoshop.

[null and void]

Thank you. (sort of)

[Minutemen]

obviously his sinful exploitation of hooters finally caught up with him.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

It was unclear how Brooks died,

Probably quite happy.

[MediaMole]

After deciphering the incomprehensible sentence, I gather he was 69 and founded Eastern Foods in 1966.

[Larry Lucido]

Well, I'd like to be 69 when I go.

[skinkinthegrass]

GAG! LOL! :D

[null and void]

I think he might have set off a booby trap...

[AlextheWise1]

No he founded his first company in 1966

[HAL9000]

HE WAS 69 ?

Yes, and the funeral arrangements are by the Hardwick Funeral Home!

[Larry Lucido]

Either that or his 69 years.

[BluH2o]

It was unclear how Brooks died, but the Horry County coroner's office ...

Horry County, huh? Reminds me a little of that Bobbitt guy that had his dick cut off by his wife ... some things just sort of flow naturally.

[oyez]

May God rest your soul Mr. Brooks and many thanks.

[null and void]

Bless you, sir...

[al baby]

Now this is a thread that has possibilities

Keep me a breast of any new posts

[LdSentinal]

RIP.

. . . but the food is lousy.

[HAL9000]

Are they the pallbearers?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

And those are just the pallbearers.

[Koblenz]

who never forgot where he came from.

Hardwick funeral home. He was 69. Horry County. Never forgot where he came from.

Who wrote this article?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Beat me by 12 seconds, sir.

[mathurine]

Been there, done that; hoping for 79 now.

[Larry Lucido]

And may you get there! :-)

[catholicfreeper]

Can we have more pics on this thread. That is how Mr Hooters would have wanted it

[TheLion]

"who made his fortune selling chicken wings served by scantily clad waitresses"

God, I hate AP reporters!

[isthisnickcool]

I just read up on him a bit. He had diabetes and has had a stroke in the past. It appears that his mother may be alive and is around the age of 90. Looks like he has a little daughter who is about 6. Brooks was a Republican and a church going fellow.

I'd say this was a pretty cool guy. Self-made and was living the American dream.

[tenthirteen]

I really hope he wings his way to Heaven. If not, consider the sauce.

[Moonman62]

Horry County coroner's office

I thought it said "Horny."

Poor guy. I bet he wanted to live forever, too.

[TheRobb7]

Nice pic.

"Camel Toes R' Us"???

[null and void]

I bet he wanted to live forever, too.

Odd how many people who can't occupy themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon want to live forever.

[Feiny]

"Whenever I saw him, the first question and usually the last question from him was, 'What can I do to help ya?'" said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. That says a lot about the man. I will raise a glass & wear short shorts in his honor tonight.

[Jet Jaguar]

gratuitous ping.

[Raycpa]

Here is a pair

[kcvl]

Hooters offers to pay for champagne bought with hurricane relief funds


http://images.usatoday.com/news/_photos/2006/06/15/bobbrooks-m.jpg

In an announcement in Atlanta, Brooks said: "It bothers me as an American that resources that were intended to help victims of this tremendous tragedy were spent this way. Even if it's in my restaurants it's still not right. If FEMA will let me know where to send the check I'll get the $200 out right away."

Following Katrina, Brooks sent one of his Hooters Air 737s loaded with supplies into the Gulf Coast disaster area. The restaurant chain also donated $225,000 to the Red Cross Katrina relief fund.


http://tinyurl.com/s3mb5

[al baby]

Look Brooks has been reincarnated into a Kitten

[Reaganesque]

My guess is he tripped and fell face forward into one of his waitresses and suffocated.

[isthisnickcool]

My guess is he tripped and fell face forward into one of his waitresses and suffocated.

Was that funny?

By the way, this guy was a big supporter and knew Ronald Reagan.

[CremeSaver]

Is that kitten real?