Fast-food pioneer Baker dies

REDLAND, Calif., June 11 (UPI) -- Neal T. Baker, a pivotal player in several successful fast-food chains, died in his Redland, Calif., home at age 84, his family said.

The cause of death wasn't announced.

Baker helped build a San Bernadino hamburger stand for Richard and Maurice McDonald, who later sold the restaurant, which was serving 20,000 milkshakes a month, to Ray Kroc for $2.7 million. Kroc kept the name, turning the business into McDonalds Corp.

Baker then helped high school friend Glen Bell build his own hamburger stand. Ten years later, in 1962, Bell founded Taco Bell in Downey, Calif.

Baker went on to build Baker's Drive-Thru, a family-owned business with 36 restaurants, the Los Angeles Times reported.

There were other spinoffs. Bell employee Ed Hackbarth bought one of Bell's stands, which became the first Del Taco restaurant in 1961. Hackbarth's employee Dick Naugle later began the chain Naugles in 1970.

Baker view of success was tempered.

"When you have a successful business and you make more money than you can ever spend, why do you need to get bigger?" Baker once said.

"I'm very happy with the way things have turned out," he said in a 2004 interview with the Times.