Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire, has passed away at the age of 88. He started the company in 1975 and opened the first cookie store in Los Angeles. He later lost ownership of the company and the rights to use his name, which was a deeply personal and painful experience.
Despite this setback, he went on to co-found Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co. and became an advocate for children’s literacy. He wrote eight books, gave motivational talks, and actively promoted reading through initiatives like providing a reading room in his cookie shop in Hawaii.
Amos received numerous honors for his volunteer work, including a Literacy Award from President George H.W. Bush in 1991. He shared his story of losing Famous Amos in his book “Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade” and explained how he rediscovered his passion for baking and started Chip & Cookie in 1991.
Throughout his life, Amos inspired generations of entrepreneurs and his family, instilling a love for chocolate chip cookies that has become a cherished part of their heritage. Despite the challenges he faced in business, Amos left a lasting impact through his advocacy for literacy and the joy of baking.
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