Wayne Kent Taylor
Wayne Kent Taylor (September 27, 1955 – March 18, 2021) was an American businessman. He was the founder and CEO of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain.[1][2][3]
Early life[]
Taylor was born at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to Powell Taylor, a lieutenant in the Army and Marilyn (Bergmann) Taylor. Taylor grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. His father worked for General Electric after leaving the Army, and his mother was a buyer for a local boutique.[1]
He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he attended while on a track scholarship.[4]
Career[]
Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse in 1993, at the Green Tree Mall in Clarksville, Indiana. His goal was to create an "affordable, Texas-style" restaurant, but he was turned down more than 80 times while seeking investors. His initial investors were three doctors from Elizabethtown, Kentucky who invested $300,000. To show the investors his initial design for the first restaurant, Taylor sketched the design on a cocktail napkin.[1]
Philanthropy[]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Taylor donated his salary to support his company's frontline workers, and had committed to fund a clinical study to help members of the military who suffered from tinnitus.[1][5]
Personal life[]
Taylor had three children and six grandchildren.[6]
Death[]
Taylor died by suicide on March 18, 2021, at the age of 65. He had been struggling with post-COVID-19 symptoms including severe tinnitus for months after becoming infected with the virus.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Pietsch, Bryan (2021-03-21). "Kent Taylor, Texas Roadhouse Founder and C.E.O., Dies at 65". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Texas Roadhouse Founder Kent Taylor Dies After Struggle With 'Post-COVID' Symptoms". NPR.org. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Elfrink, Tim (2021-03-22). "Texas Roadhouse CEO dies by suicide while battling 'unbearable' post-covid-19 symptoms, family says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Kent Taylor: 3 things to know about Texas Roadhouse founder, CEO". Post Courier. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Newburger, Emma (21 March 2021). "Texas Roadhouse founder Kent Taylor dies at 65 after taking life following post Covid struggle". CNBC.
- ^ "Texas Roadhouse CEO Kent Taylor dies amid COVID-19 struggle". AP News. 21 March 2021.
- 1955 births
- 2021 deaths
- People from Pulaski County, Missouri
- North Carolina Tar Heels men's track and field athletes
- American restaurateurs
- 2021 suicides
- Restaurant founders
- People from Louisville, Kentucky
- Suicides in the United States