BRIEF: Sonic founder dead at 87

Tue. October 27, 2009; Posted: 10:14 PM

Oct 27, 2009 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SONC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The founder of one of Oklahoma's landmark companies has died. Troy Smith, who opened a hamburger joint on the outskirts of Shawnee that grew into Sonic Corp., was 87.

Smith started selling burgers and root beer in Shawnee in 1953 at a drive-in restaurant called Top Hat. There he perfected many of the methods that remain in place at Sonic's more than 3,500 drive-ins. Smith controlled traffic with angled parking, used car hops to deliver food and drink and instituted an innovative intercom system for taking orders.

He also created a network of partnerships to successfully grow the chain through a profit-sharing program.

Smith was a generous benefactor, giving millions to causes in Shawnee, his adopted hometown of Edmond, and elsewhere.

Sonic, based in Oklahoma City, is a $600 million publicly traded company. The company recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the chain's name change from Top Hat to Sonic with the publication of a book, "Sonic: The History of America's Drive-in." The book is dedicated to Smith.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church in Edmond under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home.

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For full details on Sonic Corp (SONC) click here. Sonic Corp (SONC) has Short Term PowerRatings of 4. Details on Sonic Corp (SONC) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

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