Richard and Maurice McDonald - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2024)

Richard James "Dick" McDonald (February 16, 1909–July 14, 2009) and his brother, Maurice James "Mac" McDonald (November 26, 1902–December 11, 1971) were early American fast food pioneers, who established the first McDonald's restaurant at West 14th Street and 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, California in 1940.^[1] They introduced the "Speedee Service System" in 1948. ^{[citation needed]}

The McDonald family were of Irish origin. In the US Federal Census of 1910, both brothers (Maurice as "Morris") appear in Manchester ward 8, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and their father Patrick J. McDonald is shown as originating from Ireland, having emigrated in 1877 as a baby. Their mother Margarete is also shown as Irish born, emigrating to the USA in 1884 as a child. In 1937 Patrick opened "The Airdrome" restaurant on Huntington Drive (Route 66) near the airport in Monrovia, California. It is one of the most popular public restaurants in world. In 1940 the entire restaurant was moved 40 miles (64km) east to San Bernardino and renamed "".

Franchise history[edit]

The McDonald brothers began franchising their successful restaurant chain in 1953, beginning in Phoenix, Arizona with Neil Fox.^[1] The brothers' goal was to make one million dollars before they were fifty. At first, they only franchised the system, rather than the name and atmosphere of their restaurant. It has been said^{[by whom?]} that when Richard went to check on Fox, he was shocked to see an exact replica of his San Bernardino store, right down to the name "McDonald's". When he asked Fox why he had kept the same design and name, rather than calling the restaurant "Fox's," Fox said "Why change it? It's great as it is".^{[cite this quote]} From then on, the brothers started franchising the entire concept.

Franchised McDonald's Restaurants were built to a standard design, created by Fontana, California architect Stanley Clark Meston and featuring Richard's suggestion of the Golden Arches. In the early days, there were literally two arches, one on each side of the building. The arches were lined with pink neon that flashed sequentially and when seen at an angle formed the letter "M" for McDonald's. The second franchised restaurant was opened in Downey, California, the same year. As of 2011, the Downey restaurant remains the oldest operating McDonald's franchise [1]. Additional franchises were granted for stores in Azusa, Pomona and Alhambra, California, in 1954.

Ray Kroc[edit]

In 1954, Ray Kroc, who was a milkshake machine salesman at the time,^{[citation needed]} became inspired by the evident financial success of the brothers' concept, immediately grasping the restaurants' enormous potential. He partnered with the brothers, and within a few years turned their small idea into the huge franchise that would become the McDonald's Corporation.^[2] The franchiser took only 1.9 percent of the gross sales, of which the McDonald brothers got 0.5 percent.^[2]

Kroc became frustrated with the brothers' desire to maintain only a small number of restaurants. In 1961, he purchased the company from the brothers for $2.7 million.^[2]

The agreement was a handshake agreement between the parties. Kroc insisted on a verbal agreement due to his desire to keep the full royalty price from the investors he had lined up to capitalize on his purchase.^{[citation needed]}

Although Kroc turned McDonald's into a global giant, its guiding principles remained largely unchanged from those the McDonald brothers had developed in 1948.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy[edit]

The San Bernardino store was demolished in 1976 and the site was sold to the Juan Pollo restaurant chain to serve as their corporate headquarters.^{[citation needed]} There is a private museum on site.^{[3][dead link]} Only part of the original sign remains of the first McDonald's, but plans exist for a company-sponsored museum.^{[citation needed]}

In 1984, having been the first cook behind the grill, Richard McDonald served the ceremonial 50,000,000,000th (50 billion) McDonald's hamburger.^[4]

Deaths[edit]

Maurice J. McDonald died in Riverside, California, on December 11, 1971, at the age of 69. His younger brother, Richard, died in Bedford, New Hampshire, on July 14, 2009, at the age of 100.

Richard's wife, Dorothy, died soon after. Richard and Dorothy are survived by Dorothy's son, Gale French.^[5]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Richard and Maurice McDonald at Find a Grave - Richard
• Richard and Maurice McDonald at Find a Grave - Maurice

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