Richard and Maurice McDonald

American fast food pioneers

Richard James "Dick" McDonald (February 16, 1909 – July 14, 1998) and Maurice James "Mac" McDonald (November 26, 1902 – December 11, 1971) were American entrepreneurs who founded the McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California. They are considered pioneers in the fast food industry, having developed the "Speedee Service System" that established the principles of the modern fast food restaurant.

Early Life

Richard and Maurice McDonald were born in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Patrick J. McDonald and Margarete McDonald. They grew up in a working-class family and moved to California in the late 1920s in search of better opportunities.

Founding of McDonald's

In 1937, the McDonald brothers opened a hot dog stand called "The Airdrome" at the Monrovia Airport in Monrovia, California. In 1940, they moved their operations to San Bernardino and opened a drive-in restaurant called "McDonald's Bar-B-Q." The restaurant had 25 items on the menu and was initially successful.

Speedee Service System

In 1948, the brothers closed their restaurant for three months for alterations. When they reopened, they had fired the carhops and established what they called the "Speedee Service System," a simple menu of nine items, including a 15-cent hamburger. This system emphasized speed, low prices, and volume, which became the foundation of the fast food industry.

Partnership with Ray Kroc

In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer milkshake machine salesman, learned that the McDonald brothers were using eight of his machines in their San Bernardino restaurant. Intrigued by their success, Kroc proposed a franchise system that would spread the McDonald's concept nationwide. In 1955, Kroc founded McDonald's Corporation and opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Later Years and Legacy

The McDonald brothers sold the rights to their business to Ray Kroc in 1961 for $2.7 million. They retained the original restaurant in San Bernardino, which was later renamed "The Big M" but eventually closed down. Richard McDonald lived to see the global expansion of McDonald's, while Maurice McDonald passed away in 1971.

The McDonald brothers' innovative approach to the restaurant business has had a lasting impact on the fast food industry, influencing countless other chains and establishing a model that is still in use today.

Related Pages

• McDonald's
• Ray Kroc
• Fast food
• San Bernardino, California
• Des Plaines, Illinois