Name Marion Isbell | ||
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Marion William Isbell (August 12, 1905 – October 20, 1988) was a restaurateur and founder of Ramada Inns, Inc.
Biography
Marion William Isbell was born in Whitehaven, Tennessee in 1905 and was orphaned with his two brothers James and Leon before he was 5. The brothers were placed in an orphanage and then resided with family in Memphis. He worked throughout his childhood, first picking cotton, then after dropping out of school, an errand boy. At 16, he moved to Chicago to work as a work as a dishwasher, cook and soda jerk. He first got into the restaurant business in 1934, opening the first Isbell’s Restaurant.
In 1929, Isbell took a cross-country trip with his wife, Ingrid, when he had the idea of building comfortable roadside inns. In 1954, he made the dream a reality with a group of Phoenix investors and began buying motels. He became chairman of Ramada Inns Inc., a 63-motel chain in 1962. He was chairman until 1973 before retiring in 1979.
Isbell was president of the National Restaurant Association from 1942 to 1944. In 1955, he ran for Chicago city clerk on the same ticket as Mayor Martin Kennelly.
He died on October 20, 1988, at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn in Scottsdale, Arizona. On the day of his death, Ramada released their restructuring plan to focus on gambling casinos and selling off its hotel and restaurant businesses.