Richard Thomas Snead

Longtime restaurant executive and industry champion Richard Thomas Snead died on Dec. 23 2016, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 65 years old. Snead retired from TGI Fridays and Carlson in 2009, after a cancer diagnosis, but he remained deeply involved in the restaurant industry. He returned in 2012 to lead Austin, Texas-based Gatti’s Pizza. Before joining TGI Fridays/Carlson in 1997, Snead served as senior vice president of store operations for Casual Corner Group Inc., president of new business development for LensCrafters and had a 15-year career with Burger King Corp., including a term as president of the international division and executive vice president of operations. He also served on the board of the directors for the School of Engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, from which graduated with a Bachelor of Science in engineering. Additionally, Snead served on the boards of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association.