Wally Amos, the trailblazing entrepreneur who founded the Famous Amos cookie brand, has passed away at the age of 88. Known for his signature Panama hat and infectious optimism, Amos became a symbol of success and Black excellence in America.
Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Amos started his career in New York as a music agent, representing legends like Simon & Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye. In 1975, after moving to Los Angeles, he turned his passion for baking into a business, opening the first Famous Amos cookie shop on Sunset Boulevard. His cookies, with their distinctive beige packaging and blue lettering, quickly became a nationwide sensation.
Despite selling the Famous Amos brand in 1984, Amos continued to innovate, launching Uncle Wally’s Gourmet Muffins and the Cookie Kahuna brand, which even featured on Shark Tank. His contributions to business and culture were recognized with the Horatio Alger Award in 1987, celebrating his story of perseverance and achievement.
Amos’s family fondly remembered him as a “true original Black American hero” and encouraged others to honor his memory by supporting the Alzheimer’s Association and enjoying a chocolate chip cookie in his name.
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