Robert H. Brooks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert H. Brooks
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Plaque of Hooters founder Robert H. Brooks at the Keiner Plaza Hooters in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2010.
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| Born |
Robert Howell Brooks
February 6, 1937 |
| Died | July 16, 2006 (aged 69) |
| Alma mater | Clemson University |
| Occupation | Businessman, restaurateur, executive |
| Known for | Founder of Naturally Fresh, Inc. Creator of Hooters of America |
Robert Howell Brooks (born February 6, 1937 – died July 16, 2006) was a smart businessman. He started a company called Naturally Fresh, Inc. in 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia. He also played a big part in growing the famous Hooters restaurant chain very quickly in the 1990s.
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Robert Brooks' Early Life
Robert Brooks was born in Loris, South Carolina, which is close to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He grew up on a tobacco farm. In 1960, he graduated from Clemson University with a degree in dairy science. After college, Brooks served in the United States Army. In 1967, he started his own company, Naturally Fresh Foods. This company made condiments and salad dressings in the Atlanta area. He was raised as a Methodist.
Brooks and Hooters
In 1984, Robert Brooks bought the rights to expand and franchise Hooters restaurants. He bought these rights from Lynn D. Stewart and his five business partners. Brooks then started Hooters America, Inc. with a group of investors. He eventually gained control and became the chairman of the entire Hooters organization.
Under Brooks' leadership, Hooters grew a lot. In the mid-1980s, there were only about six restaurants, mostly around Clearwater, Florida. By the time he retired, there were over 430 Hooters restaurants around the world. These included locations in places like Taiwan, Venezuela, and Switzerland.
Hooters' Other Ventures
The Hooters company also tried out other businesses. They had Hooters Air, which was an airline that flew from 2004 to 2006. They also sponsored sports, like the Hooters Pro Cup in auto racing and the Hooters Pro Tour in golf. In February 2006, the Hooters Casino Hotel opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. In March 2006, the Hooters MasterCard credit card was launched.
In 2001, Brooks bought the Hooters trademark from the people who first created the company. He gave control of the company to his son, Coby, in 2003. After that, he retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Even in retirement, Brooks would still visit the Atlanta headquarters every week. Employees at the company lovingly called him the "World Wide Wing Commander."
Awards and Donations
In 1996, Robert Brooks was named the Georgia Entrepreneur of the Year. This award recognized his success in business.
Donations to Universities
Brooks was very generous and gave a lot of money to universities in South Carolina. The Robert H. Brooks Performing Arts Center at Clemson University was named after him. This happened after he made a large donation when the center was finished in 1993-94.
In 2003, he also donated $2 million to Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. This money helped create the university's first football stadium. The university named it Brooks Stadium to honor his children. He also started the Brooks Motorsports Institute at Clemson University. This was the first institute of its kind in the US. It focused on studying the motorsports industry.
Robert Brooks' Death
Robert Brooks passed away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on July 16, 2006. He died from a cerebral aneurysm, which is a type of bleeding in the brain.
His oldest son, Mark, from his first marriage, had died before him. Mark was killed in a plane crash on April 1, 1993. The 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, Alan Kulwicki, was also in that crash. Robert's younger son, Coby Brooks, became the President and CEO of Hooters, Inc. and Naturally Fresh, Inc. However, Coby left Hooters after the company was sold in 2011.
Tributes to Brooks
After Robert Brooks' death was announced on July 17, 2006, the main page of the Hooters website changed. It showed a message that said "Farewell World Wide Wing Commander." This message stayed up from July 17 to September 10, 2006. A tribute to him also appeared in the comic strip Prickly City on July 31, 2006.
The 2007 Hooters swimsuit calendar was also dedicated to his memory.
