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. 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]
Until his death, Taylor was involved in the chain's day-to-day operations.
Philanthropy
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Taylor donated his compensation package to support his company's frontline workers, and had committed to fund a clinical study to help members of the military who had tinnitus.[1][5]
Personal life
Taylor had three children and five 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][7][8] After some improvement from an experimental treatment, "Taylor went to get his COVID vaccine and the tinnitus came roaring back. Two days later [...]" he died by suicide.[8]
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.
- ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ a b "The founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse caught COVID. 4 months later, he died by suicide. Family and colleagues detail his final days and legacy". Fortune. Retrieved 2022-02-02.