Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire and a children’s literacy advocate, passed away at the age of 88 in Honolulu. Amos founded the Famous Amos cookie company in 1975 but eventually lost ownership and control of the company. He then opened a cookie shop called Chip & Cookie in Hawaii. Despite his initial success, Amos faced challenges as a businessman and struggled with losing his company and the rights to his name.
Amos was a pioneer in the cookie industry, and his cookies were known for their high-quality ingredients. He also co-founded Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co. and was actively involved in promoting literacy. Amos received numerous awards for his volunteer work, including the Literacy Award from President George H. W. Bush.
After losing Famous Amos, Amos took a break from baking but eventually started a new business, Chip & Cookie in Hawaii. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Amos moved to New York City as a child and later joined the Air Force before becoming a talent agent. His children, Sarah and Shawn, remember Amos as a loving father who passed on his passion for baking and business to them.
Despite his setbacks, Amos remained optimistic and focused on giving back to the community through his literacy advocacy and business ventures. The legacy of his Famous Amos cookies lives on, and his impact as an entrepreneur and advocate for youth literacy is remembered and celebrated.
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