G. Blake Chanslor (June 8, 1920 – April 10, 2009) was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the

Blake's Lotaburger Blake's Lotaburger (often shortened to either Blake's or Lotaburger) is a fast food restaurant chain, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with 75 locations in the Southwestern United States, mostly located in New Mexico, as well as Tucson, Arizona. ...

restaurant chain A chain store or retail chain is a retail outlet in which several locations share a brand, central management and standardized business practices. They have come to dominate many retail markets, dining markets, and service categories in many pa ...

in 1952. Blake's Lotaburger is based in

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

. Chanslor was born in

Borger, Texas Borger ( ) is the largest city in Hutchinson County, Texas, Hutchinson County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,551 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Borger is named for businessman Asa Philip "Ace" Borger, who also est ...

, on June 8, 1920. He served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Chanslor moved to New Mexico following the end of the war. Chanslor opened the first Lotaburger in 1952. Lotaburger priced a

hamburger A hamburger (or simply a burger) consists of fillings—usually a patty of ground meat, typically beef—placed inside a sliced bun or bread roll. The patties are often served with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, bacon, or chilis ...

and a bag of potato chips at thirty-five cents at the time of its opening. He opened two more Lotaburger locations in 1953. He continued to own the company until 2003. Chanslor sold Lotaburger in 2003. Lotaburger posted $30 million in sales and seventy-five locations throughout New Mexico at the time of the 2003 sale. As of 2009 The company is run by Ronald Rule and

Brian Rule Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world. It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word me ...

. News reports listed Chanslor as a major donor to the Heart Hospital's New Heart Center for Wellness, Fitness and Rehabilitation in

Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

. he died on April 10 2009.

References

1920 births 2009 deaths Fast-food chain founders American food company founders United States Navy personnel of World War II People from Borger, Texas Businesspeople from Albuquerque, New Mexico {{US-business-bio-1920s-stub 20th-century American businesspeople Military personnel from Texas