Wallace "Wally" Amos, Jr., the founder of Famous Amos cookies, died at 88 on Wednesday in Hawaii, according to reporting by the Tallahassee Democrat, a part of the USA TODAY Network.

Amos, who told NPR he dedicated his life to creating the perfect cookie, died at home after battling dementia, reports NPR and CBS News.

His wife was by his side when he passed, according to CBS News.

"Our dad inspired a generation of entrepreneurs," his children said in a statement according to news outlets.

"With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story, and a source of Black pride. It's also part of our family story for which we will forever be grateful and proud."

Amos founded the cookie company in 1975, according to its website. His children called him a "true original Black American hero."

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Who was Amos?

Amos was born in Tallahassee's Smoky Hollow neighborhood, a thriving Black community in what is now downtown Tallahassee. However, many residents were forced to leave due to the construction of Apalachee Parkway in the 1950s and the Florida Department of Transportation building after that.

Amos moved to New York City at age 12 to live with an aunt. While he didn't have particularly good memories of his early upbringing in Tallahassee, he never forgot where it all began.

"That was back during segregation," he told a Democrat reporter after a 2006 visit. "There was racism everywhere, and it just wasn't a good time for me. I can now say I'm proud to be from Tallahassee. This has been the best trip ever." 

He visited his birthplace a number of times, including in 2006, 1995, and 1994, when Democrat entertainment columnist Mark Hinson was there to chronicle his homecoming.

Cookie Kahuna and the Sharks

Amos, who said he was not a good businessman, sold Famous Amos and the rights to use his name.

"I'm not a business guy, and my focus was not on how much money I was going to make," said Amos in Season 8, episode 3 of Shark Tank, which aired in 2016. "I just wanted to have a good time."

In the episode, he asked the Sharks for $50,000 for a 20% stake in his new cookie company, Cookie Kahuna.

With his kazoo and cookies, he attempted to wow the five sharks and convince them to invest in his company. All five sharks declined the offer.

In 2017, he left the company, according to a video he posted on YouTube.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

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