Chick-fil-A head spokesman Don Perry has died, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Local media outlets reported that Perry died of a heart attack.
The Atlanta-based company said Perry died “suddenly” the morning of July 27. He had worked with the chain almost 29 years.
Perry recently headed the company’s official response to the controversy that took place after Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy spoke out against same-sex marriage. Chicago Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (and, later, Mayor Rahm Emanuel) expressed opposition to having a franchise restaurant in his ward.
Perry sent out a statement that the company’s aim was “to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”