News > Health Popular downtown hot dog vendor dies of flu Wed., Jan. 21, 2015

Chad Rattray wasn’t just Cheddar Chad or the dog guy. Mainly, he was Chad. Nearly everyone who bought a hot dog from Rattray out front of the Bank of America building in downtown Spokane was on a first-name basis him. Rattray died suddenly Monday of complications related to the flu. He was 37 years old and had finished his training to be a Spokane Transit Authority bus driver within the last week. He drove only one day, on Sunday. “He was one of those people who stood out in a world full of knuckleheads,” said Tim Burk, chief engineer for the bank building. “There was nothing I didn’t like about the guy. I think you could ask 10,000 people and not one of them would speak badly about him.” Paul Hoffman, a training instructor with STA, had been buying hot dogs from Rattray for as long as he can remember. Hoffman ended up recruiting Rattray to work for STA. “You wouldn’t think a hot dog guy would have such an impact … but you can feel it. It’s palpable,” Hoffman said. “He was just a stellar student. An exemplary student. An awesome driver. He was on that course to be a legend among drivers. A firm grip.” This season, six people have died with flu-related illnesses - including three since Jan. 13. Rattray was generally healthy and had a flu shot this year.

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