(CBSDFW.COM/CNN) – Kent Taylor, founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse, passed away Thursday, according to a report on the restaurant chain’s Facebook page. He was 65.
“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.
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According to the statement, Taylor died by suicide after a battle with post-COVID-related 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.
Texas Taylor, Founder and CEO, Kent Taylor (Credit: Texas Roadhouse)
“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.”
Texas Roadhouse is located in Louisville, Kentucky. Greg Fischer, mayor of Louisville, tweeted Thursday that the city has lost a much-loved and unique citizen. ‘
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“Kent’s friendly and generous spirit has been his constant driving force, whether it’s quietly helping a friend or building one of America’s big companies 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. ”
Taylor gave up his salary from March 2020 to January 2021 and donated the funds to help employees in the front restaurant during the pandemic, reports WAVE, CNN subsidiary.
A Facebook post on Facebook said Friday: ‘We will miss you, Kent. Because of you and your dream of Texas Roadhouse, we can say that we love our job every day. ‘The message used a heart emoji instead of the word love.
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 was first opened in 1993 and has more than 600 locations in the United States and ten restaurants abroad. There are 15 locations in the North Texas area.
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(Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. The CNN Wire & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company contributed to this report.)