Nationality American Occupation Entrepreneur | Other names Dick McDonald | |
Full Name Richard James McDonald Died July 14, 1998(1998-07-14) (aged 89)Bedford, New Hampshire, U.S. Resting place Mount Calvary CemeteryManchester, New Hampshire, U.S. Known for Co-founder of McDonald's | ||
Brothers Richard James "Dick" McDonald (February 16, 1909 – July 14, 1998) and Maurice James "Mac" McDonald (November 26, 1902 – December 11, 1971) were American restaurateurs and entrepreneurs who developed and opened the first McDonald's restaurant in 1940. Their innovative concept and execution of a fast food stand has been highly influential in American cuisine, serving as the foundation for a global enterprise.
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Early life
The McDonald brothers were born in Manchester, New Hampshire. Their parents were immigrants from Ireland. Their father worked as a shift manager in a New Hampshire shoe factory. In the late 1920s, the brothers moved together to California.
Business career
In 1937, the McDonald brothers opened a hot dog stand (without hamburgers on the menu) in Arcadia, California, northeast of Los Angeles. It was a typical drive-in food stand of its era, where patrons waited in their cars while carhop waiters took and delivered orders.
In 1948, the brothers designed a purpose-built restaurant in San Bernardino, focused on hamburgers and french fries, on the corner of 1398 North E Street and West 14th Street in San Bernardino, California (34.1255°N 117.2946°W / 34.1255; -117.2946). While this "McDonald's" was still premised on most customers arriving by car, its design was unique due to a combination of factors:
The new restaurant was a success, and with a goal of making $1 million before they turned 50 the McDonald brothers began franchising their system in 1953, beginning with a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona operated by Neil Fox. At first they only franchised the system, rather than the name of their restaurant. Later, the brothers started franchising the entire concept, with restaurants built to a standard design, created by Fontana, California architect Stanley Clark Meston, and featuring Richard's suggestion of the paired Golden Arches, which formed an "M" when viewed from an angle.
In 1954, the McDonald brothers partnered with Ray Kroc. The franchiser took 1.9 percent of the gross sales, of which the McDonald brothers got 0.5 percent. The brothers wished to maintain only a small number of restaurants, which conflicted with Kroc's goals, and in 1961 they sold the McDonald's company to him for $2.7 million.
On November 30, 1984, Richard McDonald – the first cook behind the grill of a McDonald's – was served the ceremonial 50,000,000,000th (50 billionth) McDonald's hamburger by Ed Rensi, then president of McDonald's USA, at the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City.
Deaths
Maurice McDonald died from heart failure in Riverside, California, on December 11, 1971, at the age of 69.
Richard McDonald died in Manchester, New Hampshire, on July 14, 1998, at the age of 89. His wife Dorothy died soon after. They were survived by Dorothy's son, Gale French.
In popular culture
In the 2016 film The Founder, Richard McDonald is played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch portrays Maurice McDonald.