James Whitman McLamore (May 30, 1926 – August 8, 1996) was an American entrepreneur, founder and first CEO of the Burger King fast food franchise, along with David Edgerton. He also created the Whopper sandwich. After selling Burger King to the Pillsbury Company in 1967, he remained CEO for five years. After retirement, he served on the boards of several major companies, was chairman of the University of Miami, chaired the United Way, and was a member and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee. He invested in the Miami Dolphins for several years and reinvested in educational institutions that impacted him at Northfield Mount Hermon and Cornell University. He is also a gardener, and chairman of Fairchild Tropical Gardens.
Dave Edgerton was the first Insta Burger King franchisee in Jacksonville, FL. Edgerton opened his first unit in Miami, Florida on March 1, 1954. Edgerton wanted McLamore to join him in the business. McLamore had to sell his other two restaurants first but on June 1, he and McLamore joined forces and they formed Burger King of Miami, Inc. They opened many Burger King stores and introduced the Whopper in 1957. At the same time, Edgerton, frustrated with the problem-prone Insta machine, created a flame grill that would differentiate Burger King from others.
source : en.wikipedia.org
