of America. Amos has advocated literacy and helped thousands of adults learn to read. In 1987, he also hosted a television series designed to teach others how to read, entitled Learn to Read, produced by Kentucky Educational Television and WXYZ-TV. Due to financial troubles, Amos was forced to sell the Famous Amos Company, and because the name "Famous Amos" was trademarked by his former company, he had to use The Uncle Noname's Cookie Company as his new company's name. A Famous Amos distributor at the time, Lou Avignone, heard Amos on a local radio talk show and, inspired by Amos' story of his early business success with Famous Amos and his spirit, contacted Amos with the idea for starting a new business. In 1994, the two became partners and subsequently launched Uncle Noname Gourmet Muffins. The company focused on fat-free, nutritious muffins at that time. Uncle Noname became Uncle Wally's Muffin Company in 1999. The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide. In 2014, an article in Fortune magazine lauded "The cookie comeback of 'Famous' Wally Amos" as Amos bought back his handmade cookies under a new name The Cookie Kahuna. These cookies were marketed in a store in Hawaii, where Amos was based. They come in the flavors original chocolate chip, chocolate chip with pecans and butterscotch with macadamia nuts. In 2019, Amos was called "the King of cookies" by NBC affiliate KSNV-TV in Las Vegas. In 2020, Content Media Group released a documentary on the life of Wally Amos, The Great Cookie Comeback: reBaking Wally Amos. The film was directed by Jeff MacIntyre. Personal life On July 1, 1979, Amos married Christine (Harris) Amos, who later helped him design the early merchandise and packaging for Famous Amos cookies. Wally Amos has 4 children: Michael Amos, Gregory Amos, Sarah Amos, and musician Shawn Amos. Amos had lived in Hawaii from 1977 until 2018. Amos currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina, where he is working on Aunt Della's Cookies. Publications Authored Contributions Books Audio books Filmography References External links Famous Amos Cookies Uncle Wally's 1936 births 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people African-American businesspeople African-American non-fiction writers Businesspeople from Florida Businesspeople from New York (state) Businesspeople from New York City American food company founders American non-fiction writers American self-help writers Living people United States Air Force airmen Writers from New York City Writers from Tallahassee, Florida