Restaurant Industry Veteran Norman Brinker Passes Away
Norman Brinker passed away early this morning in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 78 years old.
-- Chain Leader, 6/9/2009 8:01:00 AM
Norman Brinker passed away early this morning in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 78 years old. Brinker was the founder and chairman emeritus of Brinker International, parent company of Chili’s Grill & Bar, Maggiano’s Little Italy and On the Border.
Lane Cardwell, CEO of Boston Market, who worked for Brinker, wrote a few blog entries that express his business acumen and influence. Cardwell said Brinker is "responsible for a lot of what we take for granted today across the casual dining category."
And in an entry entitled "The Genius of Norman Brinker," Cardwell wrote:
The genius of Norman wasn’t the many things that were visible to the customer. His genius was in assembling, nurturing, challenging, educating, motivating, evaluating, and coaching a team of people to achieve what he had dreamed. Norman was the consummate restaurateur. But he was an even better leader.
Chain Leader’s former Editor-at-Large Charles Bernstein captured Brinker’s “ripple-effect influence” in a 2005 column, calling him a “mentor of mentors.”
A classic American success story, Brinker grew up in New Mexico and graduated from high school in Roswell. He paid his own way to the New Mexico Military Institute and, after joining the Navy, he won a berth on the 1952 U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team and competed in the 1954 Modern Pentathlon World Championships. After his military service, Brinker enrolled in San Diego State University. He was elected the first non-fraternity student body president and graduated with honors in 1957.
Brinker joined Jack in the Box when it had only five restaurants. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a partner in the eventual rise of the brand to national prominence.
In 1965, Brinker noticed a vacant niche in the restaurant business between fast-food restaurants and fine-dining establishments. He founded Steak & Ale restaurants, which introduced quality dining at affordable prices—and the salad bar. Steak & Ale grew rapidly and became a publicly held company with 28 restaurants in 1971. Five years later, with 109 restaurants, including Bennigan’s, it merged with the Pillsbury Company, and Brinker was named executive vice president. In 1982, he became president of The Pillsbury Restaurant Group, the second largest restaurant operation in the world.
In 1983, Brinker became chairman and CEO of Chili’s Inc. At the time, there were 28 restaurants. In 1991, Chili’s was renamed Brinker International. Brinker retired from the company in 2000, but served as chairman emeritus until his death.
Brinker is the recipient of many business and restaurant industry awards, including Chain Leader’s 2004 Legend Award.
The Brinker family has requested that contributions in Mr. Brinker's honor be made in his name to the Communities Foundation of Texas, Methodist Health System Foundation in Dallas, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida, Wipe Out Kids' Cancer in Dallas, or a charity of your choice.
There will be a public viewing from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas, and a "Celebration of the Life of Norman Brinker" at the Meyerson Symphony Center at 2:00 p.m. on Monday.
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