Verne Winchell
Encyclopedia
Vernon Hedges "Verne" Winchell (October 15, 1915 – November 26, 2002) was the founder of Winchell's Donuts
.
On October 8, 1948 he opened his first donut
shop in Temple City, California
and earned the nickname "The Donut King" while making a fortune with a chain of Winchell's-branded donut shops in the western United States during the 1940s and 1950s.
He sold his interest in the company for $600 million in 1984 and became chairman of Denny's Restaurants for several years.
Winchell was also a successful horse breeder and owner.
Verne Winchell died on November 26, 2002 of a heart attack
at the age of 87 at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas. Family members said he collapsed after exercising on the treadmill at his home.
Winchell had retired as chief executive and president of Denny's Inc., which bought Winchell's Donut Houses in 1968.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
, Winchell and his family moved to California
when he was 9 years old. He graduated from Alhambra High School and attended Pasadena City College
.
Before starting his lucrative doughnut franchise, he tried selling jukeboxes and used cars in the 1950s. A friend suggested opening a doughnut store because there was a high profit margin. Winchell took a $27,000 stake and turned a piece of commercial property he owned into his first store.
The shops were highly successful and it wasn't too long before Winchell expanded his operation throughout California. In 1976, according to BusinessWeek
magazine, sales at Winchell's nationwide were $99 million, although the chain was by then a distant second to Dunkin' Donuts
.
Winchell eventually sold his business to Denny's in exchange for stock. In 1970, he became chairman of Denny's Restaurants.
Fourteen years later, Winchell left the doughnut and restaurant business when he sold his Denny's stock for a reported $600 million.
Ron Winchell, Verne Winchell's son began a chain of Restaurants in the Las Vegas area named "Winchell's Pub and Grill". First restaurant opened in South Las Vegas back in 2000. Later on, he expanded the chain by opening 2 more restaurants in 2003. One in South Las Vegas, and one in North Las Vegas. The Winchell legacy continues as today, July 18, 2008, Ron Winchell opens up yet another restaurant in North Las Vegas with plans to open up 2 more restaurants in a few months.
horse racing
, Verne Winchell bred more than sixty stakes
winners and raced more than forty. Among those horses, Olympio won the 1991 American Derby
. He bred and raced two Champions
: Mira Femme, the 1966 American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, and Tight Spot, voted the 1991 American Champion Male Turf Horse. Winchell also had three starters in the Kentucky Derby
: Classic Go Go, who finished fourth in 1981; Sea Cadet, who finished eighth in 1991; and Valiant Nature, who finished 13th in 1994. Sea Cadet, known as the "tailess wonder", won important Grade 1 races such as 1992's and Gulfstream Park
and Donn Handicap
s.
Donut King, the first horse Winchell bought at auction, was among the favorites for the 1954 Kentucky Derby but was injured the week of the race and didn't run. Ronnie's Baby, which was co-bred with Ronald Reagan
and purchased in 1958 from Desi Arnaz
, did not race to a high level.
Following his death, wife Joan and son Ron Winchell continue to race under Winchell Thoroughbreds.
Winchell's Donuts
Winchell's Donuts is an international doughnut company founded by Verne Winchell on October 8, 1948, in Temple City, California. , there are over 170 stores in 12 western states, as well as Guam, Saipan, and Saudi Arabia. Several stores also operated in Nagoya, Japan in the past, with most stores...
.
On October 8, 1948 he opened his first donut
DONUT
DONUT was an experiment at Fermilab dedicated to the search for tau neutrino interactions. Even though the detector operated only during a few months in the summer of 1997, it was largely successful. By detecting the tau neutrino, it confirmed the existence of the last lepton predicted by the...
shop in Temple City, California
Temple City, California
Temple City is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Temple City is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Rosemead, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a rapidly growing Asian population. Temple City also has a Cuban and Puerto Rican...
and earned the nickname "The Donut King" while making a fortune with a chain of Winchell's-branded donut shops in the western United States during the 1940s and 1950s.
He sold his interest in the company for $600 million in 1984 and became chairman of Denny's Restaurants for several years.
Winchell was also a successful horse breeder and owner.
Verne Winchell died on November 26, 2002 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 87 at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas. Family members said he collapsed after exercising on the treadmill at his home.
Winchell had retired as chief executive and president of Denny's Inc., which bought Winchell's Donut Houses in 1968.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, Winchell and his family moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
when he was 9 years old. He graduated from Alhambra High School and attended Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
.
Before starting his lucrative doughnut franchise, he tried selling jukeboxes and used cars in the 1950s. A friend suggested opening a doughnut store because there was a high profit margin. Winchell took a $27,000 stake and turned a piece of commercial property he owned into his first store.
The shops were highly successful and it wasn't too long before Winchell expanded his operation throughout California. In 1976, according to BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
magazine, sales at Winchell's nationwide were $99 million, although the chain was by then a distant second to Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
.
Winchell eventually sold his business to Denny's in exchange for stock. In 1970, he became chairman of Denny's Restaurants.
Fourteen years later, Winchell left the doughnut and restaurant business when he sold his Denny's stock for a reported $600 million.
Ron Winchell, Verne Winchell's son began a chain of Restaurants in the Las Vegas area named "Winchell's Pub and Grill". First restaurant opened in South Las Vegas back in 2000. Later on, he expanded the chain by opening 2 more restaurants in 2003. One in South Las Vegas, and one in North Las Vegas. The Winchell legacy continues as today, July 18, 2008, Ron Winchell opens up yet another restaurant in North Las Vegas with plans to open up 2 more restaurants in a few months.
Winchell Thoroughbreds
A fan of thoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, Verne Winchell bred more than sixty stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winners and raced more than forty. Among those horses, Olympio won the 1991 American Derby
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
. He bred and raced two Champions
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
: Mira Femme, the 1966 American Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, and Tight Spot, voted the 1991 American Champion Male Turf Horse. Winchell also had three starters in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
: Classic Go Go, who finished fourth in 1981; Sea Cadet, who finished eighth in 1991; and Valiant Nature, who finished 13th in 1994. Sea Cadet, known as the "tailess wonder", won important Grade 1 races such as 1992's and Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Handicap
The Gulfstream Park Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt...
and Donn Handicap
Donn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
s.
Donut King, the first horse Winchell bought at auction, was among the favorites for the 1954 Kentucky Derby but was injured the week of the race and didn't run. Ronnie's Baby, which was co-bred with Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and purchased in 1958 from Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...
, did not race to a high level.
Following his death, wife Joan and son Ron Winchell continue to race under Winchell Thoroughbreds.