Article via OC Register

"Glen Bell tried several businesses in his lifetime. Only one stuck, but it became one of the giants of the fast food industry: Taco Bell.

Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey 60 years ago, on March 21, 1962.

Born in 1923 and raised near San Bernardino, Bell wanted to do for the taco what his neighbors, the McDonald brothers, did for the hamburger at their McDonald’s drive-in.

He opened his own hamburger stand in San Bernardino across the street from a restaurant called Mitla Cafe. Its owners are often credited with teaching him about Mexican food.

Bell found a fast, cheap way to make hard shells for his tacos in the 1950s, and he was on his way. But it took him more than 10 years to find success with Taco Bell."

Read the full article by Fielding Buck here.