Creator of sandwich, the Big Mac, dies 98

[brassmonkey]

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- You probably don't know his name, but you've almost certainly devoured his creation: two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.

Michael James "Jim" Delligatti, the McDonald's franchisee who created the Big Mac nearly 50 years ago and saw it become perhaps the best-known fast-food sandwich in the world, died Monday at home in Pittsburgh. Delligatti, who according to his son ate at least one 540-calorie Big Mac a week for decades, was 98.

Delligatti's franchise was based in Uniontown, not far from Pittsburgh, when he invented the chain's signature burger in 1967 after deciding customers wanted a bigger sandwich. Demand exploded as Delligatti's sandwich spread to the rest of his 47 stores in Pennsylvania and was added to the chain's national menu in 1968.

"He was often asked why he named it the Big Mac, and he said because Big Mc sounded too funny," his son Michael Delligatti said.

Jim Delligatti told The Associated Press in 2006 that McDonald's resisted the idea at first because its simple lineup of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and shakes was selling well.

"They figured, why go to something else if (the original menu) was working so well?" Delligatti said then.

McDonald's has sold billions of Big Macs since then, in more than 100 countries. When the burger turned 40, McDonald's estimated it was selling 550 million Big Macs a year, or roughly 17 every second. Delligatti received no payment or royalties for coming up with the burger, the company said.

"Delligatti was a legendary franchisee within McDonald's system who made a lasting impression on our brand," the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said Wednesday in a statement. The Big Mac "has become an iconic sandwich enjoyed by many around the world."

Ann Dugan, a former assistant dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Katz School of Business and an expert on business franchises, said Jim Delligatti's genius was simple: He listened to customers who wanted a bigger burger.

"In franchising, there's always this set playbook and you have to follow it. Jim saw an opportunity to go outside the playbook because he knew the customer," Dugan said. "He persevered and (McDonald's) listened, and the rest is history."

Delligatti headed M&J Management, a four-generation family business and McDonald's franchise organization, for more than 60 years. He opened his first McDonald's in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs in 1957. In 1979, he co-founded Pittsburgh's Ronald McDonald House, then the seventh such facility in the country, where families can stay when children travel to Pittsburgh for life-saving medical care, and he was involved in several other charities.

Delligatti also helped introduce breakfast service at McDonald's, developing the hotcakes and sausage meal to feed hungry steelworkers on their way home from overnight shifts in the mills, his family said.

In addition to his two sons, Jim Delligatti is survived by his wife, Ellie, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The Devlin Funeral Home near Pittsburgh is handling visitation Thursday and Friday. Delligatti's funeral will be held Saturday at St. Joseph's Parish in O'Hara Township.

article...

[Bladewire]

Yuuuuumy!

[2MuchMark]

RIP, Jim. You invented a tasty burger.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Yuuuuumy!

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

Creator of sandwich, the Big Mac, dies 98

Creator of what??? Hamburger was invented by Germans. Sandwich was known 1000's years before the United States were founded. It has a lot of various names, but the meaning is the same: a bread and something over it. For example here in Russia we call it бутерброд which means Butter Brot (German). That doesn't mean that every бутерброд has to be made of bread and butter. Everything like a wurst, cheese, meat, fish, caviar or anything else over a bread is a бутерброд here.

"A creator of sandwich" What shit do you guys smoke there in the US?

'Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), 'you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.'

'And what does IT live on?'

'Weak tea with cream in it.'

A new difficulty came into Alice's head. 'Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested.

'Then it would die, of course.'

'But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully.

'It always happens,' said the Gnat.

― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865)

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by **********

RIP, Jim. You invented a tasty burger.

It was a tough invention to make.

[nico-t]

that thing is disgusting, then again it shows the horrible taste of the average consumer

[brassmonkey]

the big mac you numb skull!!!

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

Creator of what??? Hamburger was invented by Germans. Sandwich was known 1000's years before the United States were founded. It has a lot of various names, but the meaning is the same: a bread and something over it. For example here in Russia we call it бутерброд which means Butter Brot (German). That doesn't mean that every бутерброд has to be made of bread and butter. Everything like a wurst, cheese, meat, fish, caviar or anything else over a bread is a бутерброд here.

"A creator of sandwich" What shit do you guys smoke there in the US?

'Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), 'you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.'

'And what does IT live on?'

'Weak tea with cream in it.'

A new difficulty came into Alice's head. 'Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested.

'Then it would die, of course.'

'But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully.

'It always happens,' said the Gnat.

― Lewis Carroll, Alice?s Adventures in Wonderland (1865)

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by nico-t

that thing is disgusting, then again it shows the horrible taste of the average consumer

you are entitled to bitch and cry all you want almost every post you make it exactly that

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

the big mac you numb skull!!!

What's the difference to the original German Hamburger?

[Adnium_Ivana]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Yuuuuumy!

Hottest porn I've seen posted on GFY tbh

[ScottAE]

Sad news. They have a Big Mac museum down the road from me, might have to pay it a visit in memory of the Inventor of this American treasure.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Adnium_Ivana

Hottest porn I've seen posted on GFY tbh

that sauce is smacking in between those juicy bunz that meat slidin in

[NatalieK]

Originally Posted by Adnium_Ivana

Hottest porn I've seen posted on GFY tbh

My partner thrives on BigMacs, I must admit, I can't stand them. Preferring a whopper or quarter pounder if it has to be a MD

RIP to the gentleman & wow, what a great age! 98, not bad

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by ScottAE

Sad news. They have a Big Mac museum down the road from me, might have to pay it a visit in memory of the Inventor of this American treasure.

don't forget to stop by Mikky D's on the way home

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by GspotProductions

My partner thrives on BigMacs, I must admit, I can't stand them. Preferring a whopper or quarter pounder if it has to be a MD

RIP to the gentleman & wow, what a great age! 98, not bad

i miss the 99 cent whopper and jumbo jack

[Spunky]

RIP Mr Big Mac ..you made a good burger

[RyuLion]

Its pretty good but I've had tons better..

[Look Chang]

Great invention

[dillfly2000]

My secret love, I must only eat in private and whisper softly in to it's buns "Never Change"

[MrBottomTooth]

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

What's the difference to the original German Hamburger?

What the hell are you on about? Clearly they're talking specifically about the Big Mac. That's like someone talking about the inventor of the Corvette and you saying "are you crazy, that guy didn't invent the automobile!"

[adultchatpay]

Not so tasty anymore.

[druid66]

man doesn't look very healthy but from the other side he was almost 100y old..

[Evil Chris]

Originally Posted by **********

RIP, Jim. You invented a tasty burger.

Yup. Interesting story there.

[AndraKiru]

RIP.
You've left us with obesity.
We're coming after you and we're bigger that life.
LOL

[Busty2]

When i came to the USA and found the " In and Out Burger" Micky Dees died for me.