Walt Ehmer was the CEO of the popular restaurant chain Waffle House from 2012 until his death.
- Died: September 6, 2024 (Who else died on September 6?)
- Details of death: Died of complications from pancreatic cancer treatment at the age of 58.
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Walt Ehmer’s legacy
Ehmer went to work in Waffle House’s purchasing department in 1992, just a few years after he graduated from Georgia Tech University. Over the next 20 years, he rose to become one of the company’s financial leaders and, ultimately, its chief executive officer.
As CEO, Ehmer made it a priority to spend more time at Waffle House restaurants than in his office. He had a typical employee nametag, identifying him only as Walt, with the job title “Customer Service.” He wore it as he spent time at actual eateries, not just assessing their job performance, but working alongside Waffle House staff to wash dishes, cook food, and other tasks.
During the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ehmer famously pushed for Waffle House locations to remain open for business, insisting that the employees relied on the job for their livelihoods.
Notable quote
“The true way to solve a crisis is to go stand in the middle of it, and figure out how to take care of people and figure out how to help put things back together. That does not change regardless of what the crisis is.” — from a 2020 interview for Business Insider
Tributes to Walt Ehmer
Full obituary: The New York Times
