Hooters chairman found dead in home

comtnfish · Post by **comtnfish** » July 17, 2006 9:08 am

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (AP) -- 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.

prrthd1987 · Post by **prrthd1987** » July 17, 2006 9:10 am

Sail on, Robert...

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » July 17, 2006 9:35 am

Very close to home.... met him on several occasions during the early years....

Sail on Bob

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » July 17, 2006 9:59 am

Guess I know where I will be having lunch to mourn the loss...

Floridaze · Post by **Floridaze** » July 17, 2006 10:46 am

Looks like a reason to pay tribute at my local Hooters...thanks for making chicken wings special...

Bubbaphan · Post by **Bubbaphan** » July 17, 2006 2:45 pm

Ironically, he is now "tits up".

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » July 17, 2006 3:21 pm

Sail on............

PackPhanGirl · Post by **PackPhanGirl** » July 17, 2006 5:07 pm

I hate for this to sound crazy, but the chairman of HOOTERS lived in Myrtle Beach?

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » July 17, 2006 5:16 pm

thanks for the Hooters

Marnin Grita Guy · Post by **Marnin Grita Guy** » July 17, 2006 6:09 pm

PackPhanGirl wrote:I hate for this to sound crazy, but the chairman of HOOTERS lived in Myrtle Beach?

Hell Yeah!

You got a problem with that?

The man stayed close to where he grew up.

PackPhanGirl · Post by **PackPhanGirl** » July 17, 2006 6:40 pm

Marnin Grita Guy wrote:
PackPhanGirl wrote:I hate for this to sound crazy, but the chairman of HOOTERS lived in Myrtle Beach?
Hell Yeah!

You got a problem with that?

The man stayed close to where he grew up.

Chill out!

I live fairly close to MB...I guess I saw it as a tourist spot and not a home to the Hooters millionaire...it wasn't a smart-a** reply! Sorry to upset you!

Liminone · Post by **Liminone** » July 17, 2006 6:54 pm

Am I the only one who read "It was unclear how Brooks died, but the Horry County coroner's office" as "It was unclear how Brooks died, but the Horny County coroner's office"

??????

Lundah · Post by **Lundah** » July 17, 2006 7:21 pm

My apologies in advance for the gross-out, but any word on if his will states he should be deep-fried and spun in Three Mile Island sauce??

citcat · Post by **citcat** » July 17, 2006 7:38 pm

Sail on Bob.

There will be jokes, no doubt.

Liminone · Post by **Liminone** » July 17, 2006 8:02 pm

Lundah wrote:My apologies in advance for the gross-out, but any word on if his will states he should be deep-fried and spun in Three Mile Island sauce??

Wow that was your 666 post.... Just sayin...

I miss St.Thomas

citcat · Post by **citcat** » July 17, 2006 8:16 pm

Liminone wrote:
Lundah wrote:My apologies in advance for the gross-out, but any word on if his will states he should be deep-fried and spun in Three Mile Island sauce??
Wow that was your 666 post.... Just sayin...

I miss St.Thomas

whoa....dude! Post quick, Lundah !!!

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » July 17, 2006 8:17 pm

And he was 69.

I almost hate to make the jokes. It's wayyyyy too easy.

Elrod · Post by **Elrod** » July 17, 2006 8:20 pm

Sail on Bob...

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » July 17, 2006 8:29 pm

Hee-Hee! He was 69.

^^^^SAIL ON^^^^

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 17, 2006 8:32 pm

at least they didn't find him wearing a tight tshirt, skimpy orange shorts, nylons and little white sneakers...