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Fast food pioneer and visionary Glen Bell, Jr. died in his home on January 16, 2010, at the age of 86. He brought the world one of the most famous businesses in America: Taco Bell.

Bell was born on September 3, 1923. He was one of Glen and Ruth Bell’s six children. Raised in California, he served in the Marines during World War II. Upon his return to California, he first got into the fast food by opening up a few drive-in stands in the late 1940s. Originally he had a hamburger stand, which competed with the other drive-in places around, but his fondness for Mexican food drove him to found Taco Bell. Bell first sold tacos at his stand for a mere 19 cents, and they became so popular that he opened up Taco Tias with a single partner in 1954. In 1956 Bell sold the Taco Tias because his partner no longer wanted to expand the franchise. One year after selling Taco Tias he opened El Taco with three other partners, but after realizing he didn’t want to answer to partners anymore, he struck out on his own and opened the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California. His initial $4,000 investment in the restaurant soon turned into a money-making machine. In two years he opened eight more Taco Bells, with grand openings featuring live salsa music, free sombreros, and searchlights. The chain grew rapidly. By the time it was bought out by PepsiCo in 1978, there were already 868 franchises open. Now the company claims to operate more than 5,800 franchises and serve over 2 billion customers a year in the United States.

I can’t even begin to put into words how much this man has impacted my life. I’ve made many many many drunken runs to the Bell—even sober ones. I never met the man, but without him, the world would be missing of one of its greatest fast food establishments. So I propose a toast to Glen Bell, a visionary, entrepreneur, and greater man than I could ever hope to be. Thank you, Glen. Thank you for bringing college students everywhere affordable, tasty munchables; for bringing us quick, delicious meals during our work breaks; and for bringing us the beloved Chihuahua, and so much more. Thank you Glen, for the smiles on our faces when we open up that wrapper and bite into a little slice of drunk person’s heaven. May you rest in peace, enjoy the infinite supply of angeltacos you have surely earned.