Ronald L.McDonald - a brief background
Ronald Lee McDonald is a well-respected international restaurant business leader, author and philanthropist. Ronald is the author of several restaurant and food related books, including Ronald McDonald's International Burger Book and McDonald's Franchise Buyer's Guide: How to Buy a Restaurant Franchise, and has appeared on numerous food channel programs, talk shows and over 1600 radio stations.
Ronald McDonald describes himself as one of those "Baby Boomers" who grew up watching the world change radically over the last fifty years. New ideas sprung up and new industries seemed to sprout fresh daily. One of those new ideas was called "Fast Food" and he was there to see it born. While most kids had Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry and Errol Flynn as their heroes, Ronald had Richard and Maurice McDonald, the two brothers who started the McDonalds Hamburger chain in 1955 and part of Ronald’s family.
Along with Mac and Dick, Ronald had his grandmother Dorothy McDonald to help him understand the marvels of freedom, opportunity and choice that could only be found in America. The belief that anything was possible in America if you worked hard and believed in yourself was drummed into him.
Ronald used those beliefs and what he learned from his family and in 1967 built the first "Disco" in America. It was called Pandora’s Box and was located in Miami. Since that time and continuing today, Ronald has designed, built and consulted on a number of restaurant chains and operations including steakhouse chains, fast food, casual dining, food processing, private label food items and even food product development. Ronald is also an award-winning chef and in recent years, a successful author.
Ever mindful that God and America have given his family so much Ronald also strives to make sure that they also give back. Ronald is active in a number of charities and is the Chairman of The Inner City Fund, Inc. a 501c Not For Profit that is focused on providing housing for the physically challenged. A Roman Catholic, Ronald is a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus and a Knight Grand Officer of the Knights Templar.
