Raymond Albert Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984), a businessman and philanthropist, passed away on January 14th at the age of 81. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, he worked as a milkshake mixer salesman until 1954, when he opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant. Kroc rapidly expanded McDonald's into a billion-dollar business, introducing many innovations and ,making it the world's most successful fast-food chain. His passion for developing the restaurant's operations and marketing strategies made McDonald's the iconic brand it is today. Kroc also founded the Saul Zaentz Company, which went on to produce award-winning films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, and The English Patient. He was well known for his philanthropy and many organizations benefited from his generosity. Ray Kroc will be remembered fondly as a visionary and for his incredible business acumen.