Ray Kroc (1902-1984) – Find a Grave Memorial

Businessman. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was a man with a passion for perfection who created the McDonald’s restaurant empire. In 1948, as a milkshake mixer salesman, traveling across the country, he took note when the McDonald Brothers of San Bernardino, California, purchased eight of his multi-shake mixers. He visited their restaurant and became convinced that he could sell mixers to every new franchise restaurant that they opened. Offering his services to the McDonald Brothers who were looking for a new franchising agent, he took on the job to widen their business. Through next ensuring years, Kroc eventually became frustrated with the brothers’ unwillingness to start their chain with more wide market of restaurants. Thus in 1961, the $2.7 million that Kroc paid for the McDonald Brothers Corporation, is considered to be one of the greatest acts of salesmanship of all time. From there, he started franchisees nation wide, set strict rules for his franchisees on how the food was to be made, portion sizes, cooking methods, times and packaging. He also let the franchisees decide their best approach to marketing the products in their given locations which resulted into the most successful fast food operation in the world to date. In 1974, he bought the Major League San Diego Padres baseball club and owned the team until his death from heart failure at age 81 in La Jolla, California.

Businessman. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was a man with a passion for perfection who created the McDonald’s restaurant empire. In 1948, as a milkshake mixer salesman, traveling across the country, he took note when the McDonald Brothers of San Bernardino, California, purchased eight of his multi-shake mixers. He visited their restaurant and became convinced that he could sell mixers to every new franchise restaurant that they opened. Offering his services to the McDonald Brothers who were looking for a new franchising agent, he took on the job to widen their business. Through next ensuring years, Kroc eventually became frustrated with the brothers’ unwillingness to start their chain with more wide market of restaurants. Thus in 1961, the $2.7 million that Kroc paid for the McDonald Brothers Corporation, is considered to be one of the greatest acts of salesmanship of all time. From there, he started franchisees nation wide, set strict rules for his franchisees on how the food was to be made, portion sizes, cooking methods, times and packaging. He also let the franchisees decide their best approach to marketing the products in their given locations which resulted into the most successful fast food operation in the world to date. In 1974, he bought the Major League San Diego Padres baseball club and owned the team until his death from heart failure at age 81 in La Jolla, California.

Bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith