Abstract
Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram is an American entrepreneur that built White Castle into one of the most successful quick-service restaurant chains in the history of the United States. He is acknowledged as the first restaurateur to offer this now universally accepted product "the hamburger" as the primary menu item. As a pioneer in the sprawling quick service industry, his magical influence transformed the lowly regarded hamburger into the most popular food item in America (Hogan, 2001). Before White Castle, hamburger sandwiches were primarily served at carnivals, fairs and amusement parks rather than in restaurants. At that time, hamburger was not considered worthy of serving at restaurants. Prior to 1920s, most Europeans never perceived hamburger as a menu item at a restaurant as it is often thought as a poor man's fodder.