Thomas J. Bata

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Thomas J. Bata (born September 17, 1914), also known as Tomas Bata Jr. and Tomáš Baťa Jr., ran the Bata Shoe Company from the 40s until the 80s.

Bata was born in the Czech city of Zlin, in what is now the Czech Republic, the son of Czech industrialist Tomáš Baťa.

Bata has also won many honorary degrees and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian award. He is the Honorary Colonel of the The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment of the Canadian Forces Reserve, and is frequently seen in the field visiting with its troops.

He currently resides in Toronto with his wife Sonja I. Bata, founder of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, where he continues to take an active role in the business, currently run by the Board of Directors of the company.