Troy Nuel Smith Sr. (May 26, 1922 – October 26, 2009)[1] was an American businessman who founded Sonic Drive-In, a fast-food restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City that recreates the drive-in diner feel of the 1950s, complete with carhops who usually wear roller skates. By the time of Smith's death in 2009, the chain had 3,600 restaurants in 42 U.S. states.