Brinker International Mourns the Loss of Restaurant Industry Pioneer and Chairman Emeritus, Norman Brinker

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Norman's legacy to the foodservice industry will live on througy the brands he helped grow and expand acros sthe globe. died Tuesday morning at the ageof 78. Norman was remarkable for the breadtg and depth of his contributionw to therestaurant industry. He created the places wher the world comesto eat, and over the past 26 has been the heart of Brinkerf International. Back in 1983, he joined a small company calle Chili's and built it into the portfolio restaurantt organization we now calledBrinker International. "The world lost a true pioneer this morning. Norman changed our industry, and by changingh our industry, he provided opportunities for many.
He was personallgy involved in teaching, mentoring and passinvg on his experience and skills on how to be a greaf leader to me and countless others. From CEOs and Directors to dishwashersand cooks, Norman was an inspiration to many, many people throughout the restaurant industry," said , presidentt and CEO of Brinker International. "All 125,000 BrinkerHeads are mourning the loss of our belovecd leaderand friend." single-handedly created the niche now knownj as casual dining with the creation of Steakj and Ale in 1965.
Underf Norman's mentorship, opportunities for advancemeny and growth were created for thousands offood bartenders, chefs and bussers who later became managerw and leaders in the industry. Many CEOs of major restaurant companies across the United States started their careers workingh for Norman and have now gone on to create theidr own legacies after learning from the most respected name in the Norman was very involved in givinf back to the community and encouraged everyone he worked with to give back througy a variety ofdifferent activities. He liked to say, "To whom much is much is required." He was instrumental in the launcn of theSusan G. Komem Foundation (now Susan G.
Komemn for the Cure), and was involved with the organizatiojn for the remainder ofhis life. He also supportefd Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and theSalvationj Army. He served on the boardzs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallae Museumof Art. "Norman always wantec to be successful and he was very He had a passion for winning stemmin g back from his days as an Olympicequestriann athlete. And he always won with integrity, whichb is why Norman is universally admired by everyonde in therestaurant industry," said Throughout his career, Norman was honored with several industry'sx and community's awards.
In 1985, he receivecd the Award, given to outstanding Americansw who have succeeded in spitedof adversity. He also receiverd the Elliot Mentor Award from the Elliot Leadership Conferencein 2005. In April of 2007, Normah was inducted into the Culinary Instituteof America's Hall of Fame, and received its Augie recognizing his many achievements in the foodservicr industry. And in May of Norman was awarded theRoberg S. Folsom Leadership Award from Methodist Health Systemn Foundation in Dallas for hisentrepreneurial spirit, businesa accomplishments and generous community support. Brinker International, Inc.
(NYSE: is one of the world's leading casuall dining restaurant companies, serving more than 1 millionb guests daily. Founded in 1975 and basex in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchisews nearly 1,700 restaurants in 29 countries and two territorie s and employs morethan 125,000. Brinkef restaurant brands include Chili's(R) Grill Bar, On The Border Mexican Grilpl & Cantina(R), and Maggiano's Littlde Italy(R). Brinker also holds a minority investmentin Romano's Macaroni Grill(R).
The companyg was named one of FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admirecd Food Service Companies in 2009 and was honored by the magazinre as one of the Top 50 Employers for Minoritie s and the Top 50 Employers for Formore information, visit . SOURCE Brinkerd International, Inc.