The Life of Wallace Amos

Wallace (Wally) Amos was born in Tallahassee, Florida on July 1st, 1936. For a short time he attended Food Trades Vocational High School. He has four children. Three boys and a girl named Sarah. 

Wallace became William Morris's first black agent in 1962. As head of the rock 'n' roll department he signed Simon & Garfunkel.

On March 10th 1975 he started Famous Amos!

His first Famous Amos store opened on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles of 1975.                                                                                                                               

Though he had other competitors, he didn't let that faze him. He had confidence that the flavor of his cookies would beat out his competitors.

He went on to receive the President's Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, the Horatio Alger Award and Outstanding Business Leader Award.

BUT Wallace made some mistakes and eventually lost all rights to the name and to his own beard. So far that he was $900, 000 in debt. Be he still has kept going with his other companies and hasn't been happier doing what he loves. Keebler currently owns Famous Amos and its rights to its name.

He started many other companies in his life time:

He Founded Chip & Cookie:

Due to advice from his lawyer they thought it wise for Mr. Amos to leave the cookie business for a while........

......So he opened Uncle Wally's.....a muffin company!

During his spare time he advocates for ending illiteracy in the United States. 

Lately the 79 year old, lives in Hawaii....still making cookies.....of course...and is enjoying every minute of it! His newest company is called Cookie Kahuna. He says it brings back the original taste of his cookies from his former 1970s company 'Famous Amos'.....the recipe was changed not too long after he lost the company.