OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Troy N. Smith, the founder of a drive-in chain that became Sonic restaurants, has died in Oklahoma City. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City-based restaurant chain says Smith died Monday at an Oklahoma City hospital after a recent decline in health
Smith started the Top Hat root beer stand in Shawnee in 1953 and later converted it into a drive-in restaurant where customers used an intercom speaker system to place orders from their cars.
He eventually changed the name to Sonic Drive-Ins. There currently are nearly 3,600 restaurants in 42 states.
He is survived by his wife, Dollie, two children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church in Edmond.
Business
October 28, 2009
Sonic founder Troy Smith dead at 87
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