“Our community and the restaurant industry have lost a legend and Taylor’s family lost a wonderful son, father and grandfather this week,” a joint statement from Taylor’s family and Texas Roadhouse told CNN on Saturday.
The statement said Taylor died of suicide after a battle with Covid-19 symptoms, including severe tinnitus, or in the ear, and his suffering has increased in recent days.
Taylor funded a clinical study to help army members suffering from tinnitus, the statement said.
“Kent leaves an unparalleled legacy as a nation-first leader, which is why he often said that Texas Roadhouse was a people’s business that happened to serve steaks,” the statement said.
“He has changed the lives of hundreds of millions of employees and guests over the past 28 years.”
“Kent’s friendly and generous spirit was his constant driving force, whether it was a friend helping a friend or building one of America’s big businesses in @texasroadhouse,” Fisher wrote. “He was a great entrepreneur who embodied the values of never giving up and putting others first. My sincere condolences to Kent’s family and many, many friends.”
The statement from the family created the idea that would later become Texas Roadhouse on a cocktail napkin.
According to the company’s website, Texas Roadhouse first opened in 1933 and has more than 600 locations in the United States and ten restaurants abroad.