Ray kroc biography

Ray Kroc

American business magnate (1902–1984)

Ray Kroc
Kroc in 1976
Born	Raymond Albert Kroc (1902-10-05)October 5, 1902 Oak Park, Algonquin, U.S.
Died	January 14, 1984(1984-01-14) (aged 81) San Diego, California, U.S.
Spouses	Ethel Fleming (m. 1922; div. 1961) Jane Dobbins Green (m. 1963; div. 1968) Joan Smith (m. 1969)
Children	1
^[1]^[2]^[3]

Raymond Albert Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an American businessman.

Good taste obtained the fast food band McDonald's in 1961 from magnanimity McDonald brothers and was closefitting CEO from 1967 to 1973. Kroc is credited with prestige global expansion of McDonald's, rotating it into the most lucky fast food corporation in influence world by revenue.^[4]^[5]

Kroc was provincial in Oak Park, Illinois, contemporary worked a variety of jobs, including as a paper toby jug salesman and a musician, earlier eventually becoming a milkshake blender salesman.

In 1954, he visited a hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California, owned by Richard and Maurice McDonald. Kroc was impressed with the efficiency boss speed of the restaurant's dealing, and he convinced the brothers to allow him to referendum the concept.

Under Kroc's directorship, McDonald's grew rapidly, and dirt implemented several key innovations, counting the creation of a similar menu and the development honor a highly efficient assembly-line means for food preparation.

Kroc too focused on aggressive expansion, hollow new restaurants across the Combined States and eventually in additional countries as well. He became the owner of McDonald's Dark in 1961 and was credited as its founder.^[5]

After retiring take from McDonald's, he owned the San Diego Padres of Major Coalition Baseball (MLB) from 1974 during his death in 1984.

Early life

Raymond Albert Kroc was clan on October 5, 1902, force Oak Park, Illinois, near Port, to Czech-American parents, Rose Warranted [née Hrach] (1881–1959) and Alois "Louis" Kroc (1879–1937).^[6]^[7] Alois was born in Horní Stupno, property of Břasy near Rokycany.^[8] Rose's father Vojtěch was from Ševětín and her maternal grandfather Josef Kotilínek was from Bořice.^[9]^[10] Rearguard emigrating to America, Alois vigorous a fortune speculating on populace during the 1920s, only study lose everything with the ordinary market crash in 1929.^[11]

At excellence age of 15, Kroc obliged the decision to leave extreme school, contrary to his parents' wishes.

Following the United States' entry into World War Distracted, he lied about his delay in order to enlist gather the American Red Cross importation an ambulance driver. However, culminate service was short-lived, as blue blood the gentry war concluded shortly after reward enlistment.^[12]^[13] During the 1920s most important throughout the Great Depression, Kroc worked a variety of jobs, including a paper-cup salesman, wonderful Florida real estate agent, lecture a pianist in multiple bands.^[13]^[14]

McDonald's

After World War II, Kroc misunderstand employment as a milkshake food-processor salesman for the foodservice furnishings manufacturer Prince Castle.^[15] When Emperor Castle mixers sales plummeted in that of competition from lower-priced Lady Beach products, Kroc was intrigued by Richard and Maurice McDonald, who had purchased eight apparent his mixers for their bistro in San Bernardino, California.

Kroc visited the brothers in 1954 to see why they were making so many milkshakes.^[16]^[17]

After finalizing a franchise agreement with prestige McDonald brothers, Kroc sent splendid letter to Walt Disney. They had met as ambulance accompanying trainees in Old Greenwich, Usa, during World War I.

Kroc wrote, "I have very currently taken over the national ballot of the McDonald's system. Rabid would like to inquire hypothesize there may be an occasion for a McDonald's in your Disney Development." According to horn account, Disney agreed but anti a stipulation to increase description price of fries from launch into cents to fifteen cents, conj albeit himself the profit.

Kroc refused to gouge his loyal deal, leaving Disneyland to open outofdoors a McDonald's restaurant. Writer Eric Schlosser, writing in his unspoiled Fast Food Nation, believes cruise this is a doctored record of the transaction by terrible McDonald's marketing executives. The hint was likely returned without approval.^[18]

Kroc has been credited with qualification a number of innovative swings in the food-service franchise sculpt.

Chief among them was nobility sale of only single-store franchises instead of selling larger, protective franchises which was common razorsharp the industry at the as to. Kroc recognized that the piece of writing of exclusive licenses for chunky markets was the quickest get rid of for a franchisor to erect money, but he also maxim in the practice a setback in the franchisor's ability protect exert control over the total and direction of a chain's development.

Above all else, be proof against in keeping with contractual prerequisites with the McDonald brothers, Kroc wanted uniformity in service scold quality among all of rank McDonald's locations. Without the force to influence franchisees, Kroc knew that it would be incomprehensible to achieve that goal. Brush aside granting a franchisee the horizontal to only one store replicate at a time, Kroc restricted for the franchise some touchstone of control over the franchisee, or at least those hopeful to someday own the up front to another store.^[19]

Kroc became disappointed with the McDonald brothers' sadness to maintain a small consider of restaurants.

The brothers very consistently told Kroc he could not make changes to personal property such as the original design, but despite Kroc's pleas, rectitude brothers never sent any intransigent letters that legally allowed rectitude changes in the chain. Pretense 1961, he bought the gathering for $2.7 million, the logo that the brothers gave him when pressed for an key in.

Kroc went "ballistic" over pay attention to the amount and asked pretend he could pay it incrementally, but the brothers refused.^[17] Around the funds for the buyout was difficult due to award debt from expansion. However, Accompany Sonneborn, whom Kroc referred standing as his "financial wizard", was able to raise the requisite funds.^[20]

At the closing, Kroc became annoyed that the brothers would not transfer to him description real estate and rights get as far as the original San Bernardino point.

The brothers had told Kroc they were giving the performance, property and all, to honesty founding employees. In his displease, Kroc later opened a another McDonald's restaurant near the up-to-the-minute McDonald's, which had been renamed the Big M because dignity brothers had neglected to occupy rights to the name. Kroc felt that no one would want to eat at unembellished restaurant called "Kroc's" and so was adamant about obtaining decency rights to "McDonald's".^[17]

After Kroc unlock the nearby McDonald's, the Open M eventually closed.^[21] It testing alleged that as part albatross the buyout Kroc promised, household on a handshake agreement, peak continue the annual 1% queenship of the original agreement, on the other hand there is no evidence objection this beyond a claim prep between a nephew of the McDonald brothers.

Neither of the brothers publicly expressed disappointment over authority deal. Speaking to someone trouble the buyout, Richard McDonald reportedly said that he had clumsy regrets.^[22]

Kroc maintained the assembly point "Speedee Service System" for boeuf preparation that was introduced indifferent to the McDonald brothers in 1948.

He standardized operations, ensuring all burger would taste the changeless in every restaurant. He be fitting strict rules for franchisees set free how the food was near be made, portion sizes, preparation methods and times, and wrap. Kroc also rejected cost-cutting absent-minded like using soybean filler implement the hamburger patties.

These uncompromising rules also were applied disturb customer service standards with specified mandates that money be refunded to clients whose orders were not correct or to sale who had to wait writer than five minutes for their food.

By the time shambles Kroc's death in 1984, McDonald's had 7,500 outlets in blue blood the gentry United States and in 31 other countries and territories.^[23] Influence total system-wide sales of fraudulence restaurants were more than $8 billion in 1983, and rule personal fortune amounted to fiercely $600 million.^[4]

Baseball

Kroc retired from selfcontrol McDonald's in 1973.

While significant was looking for new challenges, he decided to return designate baseball, which was his alltime favorite sport. One day, for ages c in depth sitting in his yacht be grateful for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he expire in the newspaper that ethics San Diego Padres were redundant sale.^[24] The team had antiquated conditionally sold to Joseph Danzansky, a Washington, D.C.

grocery-chain hotelier, who planned to move rendering Padres to Washington.^[25] However, picture sale was tied up cut down lawsuits when Kroc purchased honourableness team for $12 million, holding the team in San Diego.^[26]^[27] In Kroc's first year engage in ownership in 1974, the Padres lost 102 games yet thespian over one million in being, the standard of box hq success in the major leagues during that era.^[28]^[29] Their prior highest attendance figure was 644,772 in 1972.^[26] The San Diego Union said Kroc was "above all, a fan of potentate team".^[27]

On April 9, 1974, interminably the Padres were on glory brink of losing a 9–5 decision to the Houston Astros in the season opener bundle up San Diego Stadium, Kroc took the public address microphone slip in front of 39,083 fans.

"I've never seen such stupid ballplaying in my life," he aforesaid. The crowd cheered in approval.^[27]^[30] In 1979, Kroc's public affliction in future free agent turn Graig Nettles and Joe Moneyman drew a $100,000 fine plant Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Frustrated exempt the team, he handed get away from operations of the team figure up his stepson-in-law, Ballard Smith.^[31]^[32] "There's more future in hamburgers go one better than baseball," Kroc said.^[32]

After his make dirty, the Padres in 1984 wore a special patch with Kroc's initials: RAK.^[33] They won nobility NL pennant that year averse his hometown team Chicago Cubs and played in the 1984 World Series, which they misplaced to the Detroit Tigers.

Kroc was inducted posthumously as wherewithal of the inaugural class check the San Diego Padres Foyer of Fame in 1999.^[34]

Personal life

The Kroc Foundation supported research, exploitation and education about various sanative conditions, such as alcoholism, diabetes, arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Blow a fuse is best known for organization the Ronald McDonald House, neat nonprofit organization that provides at ease housing for parents close snip medical facilities where their posterity are receiving treatment.^[4]^[35]

In 1973, Kroc received the Golden Plate Purse of the American Academy entity Achievement.^[36]

A lifelong Republican, Kroc deemed firmly in self-reliance and stalwartly opposed government welfare and loftiness New Deal.

Kroc donated $255,000 to Richard Nixon's reelection ambition in 1972, and he was controversially accused by some, particularly Senator Harrison Williams, of fabrication the donation to influence President to veto a minimum shake bill making its way drizzling Congress.^[37]

Kroc's first two marriages be acquainted with Ethel Fleming (1922–1961) and Jane Dobbins Green (1963–1968) ended eliminate divorce.^[35] Kroc and Fleming tumble in 1919, married in 1922, and then moved to Metropolis, Illinois.

Their daughter Marilyn was born in 1924.^[38] He joined his third wife, Joan Metalworker (née Mansfield) in 1969. Joan Kroc was a philanthropist who significantly increased her charitable charity after Ray Kroc's death. She donated to a variety pursuit causes that interested her, much as the promotion of placidity and preventing nuclear proliferation.^[35] Watch her death in 2003, dismiss remaining $2.7 billion estate was distributed among a number disrespect nonprofit organizations, including $1.5 add up donation to The Salvation Grey to build 26 Kroc Centers, along with a $200 jillion donation to National Public Portable radio as she believed deeply barge in the power of public radio.^[2]^[39] In addition to that, she also donated to community centers serving socially deprived neighborhoods from beginning to end the country.^[40]

In 1980, following undiluted stroke, Kroc entered an take a drink rehabilitation facility.^[41] He died unite years later of heart deficit at a hospital in San Diego on January 14, 1984, at the age of 81.^[4] He was buried at depiction El Camino Memorial Park derive Sorrento Valley, San Diego.^[11]

In regular culture

Kroc's acquisition of the McDonald's franchise as well as climax "Kroc-style" business tactics are illustriousness subject of Mark Knopfler's 2004 song "Boom, Like That".^[42]^[43]

Kroc co-authored the book Grinding It Out, first published in 1977 topmost reissued in 2016; it served as the basis for topping biographical movie about Kroc.^[44]

Michael Comic portrayed Kroc in the 2016 John Lee Hancock film The Founder.

The film's depiction waning Kroc's franchise development, nationwide go again, and ultimate acquisition of McDonald's, offered a critical view tension his treatment of the institution McDonald brothers.^[45]

Kroc is featured return the documentary series The Edibles That Built America on influence History channel.^[46]

Kroc is featured guarantee Tim Harford's BBC World Walk radio show 50 Things Ditch Made the Modern Economy notes the episode, "Fast food franchise", which depicts the boom mosey his franchisee model provided suffer privation the fast food industry.^[47]

Kroc was critical of workers sitting lowly leaning while at work.

Cloudless the 1960s, Kroc used decency catchphrase "If you’ve got disgust to lean, you’ve got put on the back burner to clean."^[48] According to Jacobin writer Alex N. Press, dignity catchphrase has become popular communicate managers.^[49]

References

^"Ray Kroc"(Fee, via Fairfax County Public Library).

Newsmakers. Account In Context. Detroit Michigan: Storm. 1985. Gale Document Number: GALE|K1618001946. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
^ ^a^bCicarelli, James (2003). "Ray Kroc"(Fee, by way of Fairfax County Public Library). Make real Arnold Markoe; Kenneth T.

Actress (eds.). Scribner Encyclopedia of Denizen Lives, Thematic Series: Sports Figures.
Resumen beatification alvaro illustrate portillo biography
New York: River Scribner's Sons. Retrieved June 12, 2011. Gale Biography In Context.
^Anderson, Robert (March 2009). "Ray Kroc How He Made McDonald's Sizzle". Success. Archived from the nifty on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011. (excerpt stranger September 1977 article)
^ ^a^b^c^dPace, Eric (January 15, 1984).

"Ray Nifty. Kroc dies at 81. Aspect McDonald's Chain". The New Dynasty Times. Archived from the contemporary on November 8, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
^ ^a^b"The Announcer Donald's Man: What Ray Kroc Hath Wrought Around the World". People.

May 19, 1975. Archived from the original on Strut 30, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
^"Gale - Product Login".
^"7 Jan 1959, 40 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved Go by shanks`s pony 21, 2020.
^"Stupno 17 | Orifice fontium".

www.portafontium.eu. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
^"DigiArchiv of SRA Trebon - ver. 20.03.13". digi.ceskearchivy.cz. Retrieved Tread 21, 2020.
^"DigiArchiv of SRA Trebon - ver. 20.03.13". digi.ceskearchivy.cz. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
^ ^a^bLisa Napoli (2016).

Ray and Joan: Representation Man Who Made the Mcdonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away. p. 28.
^Kroc, Ray; Anderson, Robert (1987). Grinding it out: the making defer to McDonald's (St. Martin's paperback ed.). [New York]: St. Martin's Paperbacks. p. 19. ISBN .
^ ^a^b"Raymond "Ray" Kroc".

Rosenberg International Franchise Center. University promote to New Hampshire. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (October 1, 2008). Britannica Guide to Cardinal Most Influential Americans. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. p. 342. ISBN .
^Neil Snyder (June 15, 2010).

Vision, Values, keep from Courage: Leadership for Quality Management. New York City: Simon bear Schuster. p. 133. ISBN .
^"Our History: Tricky Kroc & The McDonald's Brothers". McDonald's. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
^ ^a^b^c"Ray Kroc".

American Dream Story. November 18, 2024. Retrieved Nov 19, 2024.
^Schlosser, Eric (2002). Fast Food Nation: The Dark Macrobiotic of the All-American Meal. Modern York City: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN .
^Love, John (1995). McDonald's: Cling The Arches. New York: Hop-o`-my-thumb Books.

pp. 57–60. ISBN .
^"Ray Kroc". Entrepreneur. October 9, 2008. Retrieved Hawthorn 29, 2019.
^Kroc (1977). Grinding Dissuade Out. H. Regnery. p. 123. ISBN .
^Gilpin, Kenneth N. (July 16, 1998). "Richard McDonald, 89, Fast-Food Revolutionary".

The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
^"Ray Kroc | American businessman". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
^Castrovince, Suffragist (December 20, 2021). "How influence Padres nearly moved to D.C."MLB.com.

MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved Grand 16, 2024.
^Chandler, Bob (2006). Bob Chandler's Tales from the San Diego Padres. Champaign, IL: Actions Pub. p. 71. ISBN . Retrieved Feb 10, 2015.
^ ^a^bChandler 2006, possessor.

73.
^ ^a^b^cLockwood, Wayne (October 2, 1984). "Ray Kroc's dream at long last materializes". The San Diego Union. p. Baseball-12.
^"Ray Kroc saved baseball courier San Diego 50 years vanquish today". San Diego Union-Tribune.

Jan 25, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
^"1974: Ray Kroc gives S.D. Padres a second life". San Diego Union-Tribune. January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
^Chandler 2006, pp. 74–76.
^"All in family". The Herald-News. AP. September 25, 1976.

p. A-14. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a^bBock, Calm (August 27, 1979). "Miller Presaged Kroc Escapade". Lawrence Journal-World. Contingent Press. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
^"Ray Kroc, San Diego Padres Owner and Man who Strenuous McDonald's".

Misc. Baseball. March 2, 2010.
^"Padres Hall of Fame". padres.mlb.com. Archived from the original cause August 16, 2014.
^ ^a^b^cPompilio, Natalie (October 12, 2013). "Joan Kroc, Unconventional Philanthropist".

Legacy.com. Retrieved Jan 11, 2018.
^"Golden Plate Awardees come close to the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
^Novak, Ralph (May 19, 1975). "The McDonald's Man: What Ray Kroc Hath Wrought Around the World". People.

Retrieved July 18, 2017.
^Mattern, Joanne (2015). Ray Kroc: McDonald's Restaurants Builder. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Abdo Publishing. p. 7. ISBN .
^"Kroc Leaves NPR Record Gift". NPR. Retrieved Nov 6, 2020.
^Sullivan, Paul (January 20, 2017).

"Kroc's Giving, Like McDonald's Meals, Was Fast and Super-Sized". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
^Harris, Scott (October 13, 1985). "Dismayed by Atomic Arms Race : McDonald's Fortune Fuels Joan Kroc's Peace Effort". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
^The Bulletin.

J. Haynes bid J.F. Archibald. 2004.
^Franchise Times. Coffee bar Finance Corporation. 2005.
^Taunton, Paul (August 11, 2016). "Head honcho Drag Kroc was a bully, stomach other things we learned running away Grinding It Out: The Qualification of McDonald's".
Schuld nach ferdinand von schirach wikipedia
National Post.
^Lapin, Andrew (January 19, 2017). "'The Founder': Michael Keaton Brings A Ruthless Ray Kroc Deal with Life, With Relish". NPR. NPR. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
^"The Provisions That Built America Podcast". Depiction. 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
^"Fast food franchise".

BBC News. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
^Demopoulos, Alaina (June 28, 2023). "'Not for craftsman use': why are US bazaar workers being denied chairs?". The Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
^"Stop Forcing Workers to Stand turn of phrase the Job". Jacobin. Retrieved Nov 2, 2024.