1902 – 1984

Ray Kroc

American businessman

restaurateursalespersonentrepreneurbusinesspersonwriter

Born

1902-10-05, Oak Park

Died

1984-01-14

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Ray Kroc was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1902 and worked as a restaurateur, salesman, and businessman. He served as a franchising agent for McDonald's before purchasing the brand from the McDonald brothers in 1961, then led the company until his death in 1984.

Occupation

Ray Kroc is recorded as a restaurateur, a salesperson, a entrepreneur, a businessperson and a writer, born in Illinois (1902–1984).

Connections to Illinois

Ray Kroc was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1902. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Everything a full report reveals about Oak Park

Ray Kroc came from Oak Park. A full Aubrey report on Oak Park pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Ray Kroc

Who was Ray Kroc?

Ray Kroc was American businessman, born in Illinois (1902 – 1984).

When and where was Ray Kroc born?

Ray Kroc was born on 1902-10-05 in Oak Park.

When did Ray Kroc die?

Ray died on 1984-01-14.

What was Ray Kroc known for?

Ray Kroc is recorded as a restaurateur, a salesperson, a entrepreneur, a businessperson and a writer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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