Troy N. Smith, the founder of a drive-in

chain that became Sonic restaurants, has died in Oklahoma City. He

was 87.

A spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City-based restaurant chain says

Smith died Monday at an Oklahoma City hospital after a recent

decline in health

Smith started the Top Hat root beer stand in Shawnee in 1953 and

later converted it into a drive-in restaurant where customers used

an intercom speaker system to place orders from their cars.

He eventually changed the name to Sonic Drive-Ins. There

currently are nearly 3,600 restaurants in 42 states.

He is survived by his wife, Dollie, two children, eight

grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the First

Christian Church in Edmond.