Texas Roadhouse announces passing of CEO and Founder Kent Taylor
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKRC) - A businessman who was famous for his kindness and generosity has passed away, according to his company.
Texas Roadhouse, which is based in Louisville, Kentucky, announced on Thursday that its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kent Taylor is sadly no longer with us.
"Kent Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse in 1993 and held various positions, including most recently Chairman of the Board and CEO," said the company in its announcement.
Texas Roadhouse is a chain restaurant that specializes in steak and American cuisine. It is famous for providing free buckets of peanuts to patrons along with free dinner rolls with honey cinnamon butter.
The chain operates 572 locations across the United States (as of October 2020) and also has locations internationally, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Mexico, and South Korea.
The statement on the company's website is brief, but includes a message from Lead Director Greg Moore, on behalf of the Board of Directors:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kent Taylor. He founded Texas Roadhouse and dedicated himself to building it into a legendary experience for “Roadies” and restaurant guests alike. During the pandemic, he gave up his entire compensation package to help support his frontline workers. This selfless act was no surprise to anyone who knew Kent and his strong belief in servant leadership. He was without a doubt, a people-first leader. His entrepreneurial spirit will live on in the company he built, the projects he supported and the lives he touched.”
