Famous Amos Founder Wally Amos Dies at 88

Wally Amos, the beloved creator of Famous Amos cookies, passed away at the age of 88 at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii, due to complications from dementia. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Amos moved to New York City at the age of 12, but he cherished his roots and often reflected on his early life experiences, including the challenges of growing up during segregation. He launched his cookie empire in 1975, turning his aunt's chocolate chip recipe into a gourmet brand that quickly gained national recognition, reaching $12 million in sales by 1981. Despite his initial success, Amos lost ownership of the company by 1988, a decision he later regretted. Throughout his life, he remained active in business, even pitching a new venture on Shark Tank in 2016. His contributions to entrepreneurship and children's literacy advocacy have left a lasting impact.