Wendy’s ranks third in the world’s largest fast food chains. In March 2010, there were about 6,650 Wendy’s locations, over 12,000 Burger King locations, and over 31,000 McDonald’s locations worldwide.

It was on this day, November 15th, in 1969 that Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s restaurant, which was in Columbus, Ohio.

Dave Thomas appeared in more than 800 commercial advertisements for his hamburger chain during the period of 1989 to 2002. No other person in history has made so many television appearances. He named the franchise after his eight-year-old daughter, who at a young age mispronounced her name, Melinda, as “Wenda.”