McDonalds: The Grave of Ray Kroc The Man Behind Fast Food

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Raymond Albert Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an American businessman who was instrumental in turning McDonald's into the most successful global fast food corporation by revenue. He purchased it from the McDonald Brothers in 1961, after several years as their franchising agent, and served as the leader of the company until his death.

Kroc was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and worked a variety of jobs, including as a paper cup salesman and a musician, before eventually becoming a milkshake mixer salesman. In 1954, he visited a hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California, owned by Richard and Maurice McDonald. Kroc was impressed with the efficiency and speed of the restaurant's operations, and he convinced the brothers to allow him to franchise the concept.

Under Kroc's leadership, McDonald's grew rapidly due to Kroc's focus on aggressive expansion, opening new restaurants across the United States and eventually internationally. Kroc became the owner of McDonald's Corporation in 1961 and is credited as its founder, due to his influence as a franchise agent and principal role in the company's expansion, despite not having founded the company.

Kroc served as president of McDonald's from 1955 to 1968, as chairman of the board from 1968 to 1977, and as senior chairman from 1977 until his death in 1984. During his lifetime Kroc was an active supporter of numerous charitable organizations. He owned the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball from 1974 until his widow, Joan Kroc, sold the team in 1990.

Raymond Albert Kroc was born on October 5, 1902, in Oak Park, Illinois, near Chicago, to Czech-American parents, Rose Mary [née Hrach] (1881–1959) and Alois "Louis" Kroc (1879–1937).[5][6] Alois was born in Horní Stupno, part of Břasy near Rokycany.[7] Rose's father Vojtěch was from Ševětín and her maternal grandfather Josef Kotilínek was from Bořice. After emigrating to America, Alois made a fortune speculating on land during the 1920s, only to lose everything with the stock market crash in 1929.

At the age of 15, Kroc made the decision to leave high school, contrary to his parents' wishes. Following the United States' entry into World War I, he lied about his age in order to enlist with the American Red Cross as an ambulance driver. However, his service was short-lived, as the war concluded shortly after his enlistment. During the 1920s and throughout the Great Depression, Kroc worked a variety of jobs, including a paper-cup salesman, a Florida real estate agent, and a pianist in multiple bands.

Ray Kroc's first (McDonald's ninth) restaurant, which opened April 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois

After World War II, Kroc found employment as a milkshake mixer salesman for the foodservice equipment manufacturer Prince Castle. When Prince Castle mixers sales plummeted because of competition from lower-priced Hamilton Beach products, Kroc was intrigued by Richard and Maurice McDonald, who had purchased eight of his mixers for their restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Kroc visited the brothers in 1954 to see why they were making so many milkshakes.

After finalizing a franchise agreement with the McDonald brothers, Kroc sent a letter to Walt Disney. They had met as ambulance attendant trainees in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, during World War I. Kroc wrote, "I have very recently taken over the national franchise of the McDonald's system. I would like to inquire if there may be an opportunity for a McDonald's in your Disney Development." According to one account, Disney agreed but with a stipulation to increase the price of fries from ten cents to fifteen cents, allowing himself the profit. Kroc refused to gouge his loyal customers, leaving Disneyland to open without a McDonald's restaurant. Writer Eric Schlosser, writing in his book Fast Food Nation, believes that this is a doctored retelling of the transaction by some McDonald's marketing executives. The proposal was likely returned without approval.