Raymond Louis Danner Sr.

DANNER, SR., Mr. Raymond LouisMr. Danner, a nationally recognized entrepreneur who revolutionized the American restaurant industry by building the Shoney's chain that was synonymous with ingenuity, quality and service, died August 30, 2008 at the age of 83 at his Nashville home. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Danner was preceded in death by his parents, Gustave Adolph Danner and Lilly Weber Danner; his son, Michael Ray Danner. Mr. Danner loved his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Judith Boyer Danner; two daughters, Donna Danner Wilson and Gail Danner Greil (Steven); two sons, Roger A. Danner (Kathleen) and Raymond Louis Danner, Jr. Mr. Danner is also survived by five grandsons, Justin P. Wilson, Jr. (Anya), Whitney Danner Wilson (Kristin), William M. Wilson, Jr., David K. Wilson III and Michael Raymond Danner. The Danner family would also like to recognize Mr. Danner's longtime friend, Mr. Bobby Garrison. At the time of his death, Mr. Danner served as Chairman of The Danner Company, a global firm with diversified real estate and business interests. His decades of success were also marked by unfaltering community service through the Danner Foundation and other civic and charitable organizations. Mr. Danner, who began working as a paper boy at the age of 10, was known for his "can-do" attitude, unparalleled work ethic and attention to detail. His father was a German immigrant who was a paperhanger and died when Mr. Danner was 16. He was a graduate of Du Pont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. After serving in the U.S. Air Force in World War II, Danner began his business career by saving $600 and purchasing a small grocery store in Louisville, Kentucky. His success with this venture led to acquisitions of a bowling alley and service stations in Lousville and a drive-in theatre in Clarksville, TN. Recognizing early the growing popularity of the American family restaurant, in 1959 Mr. Danner acquired his first Shoney's franchise in Madison, Tennessee. He subsequently purchased six more stores in the Nashville area and 22 Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Louisville, Kentucky. With every acquisition, Mr. Danner worked to perfect the food and service for which Shoney's became nationally known. In 1969, Danner Foods became a publicly traded company. That same year, Mr. Danner launched the Captain D's seafood chain. Two years later, Danner Foods bought Shoney's and changed the company name to Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises Inc. In 1976, Ray Danner was named Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the company became Shoney's, Inc. Over the years, Mr. Danner molded it into the best-managed restaurant company in the United States. In late 1981, Shoney's bought the Lee's Famous Recipe chain of fried-chicken restaurants. In addition, the company owned Sailmaker and Fifth Quarter restaurants along with a chain of hotels known as Shoney's Inns. At its peak, Shoney's was the third largest restaurant chain in the world, operated 1,600 stores and 60 Shoney's Inns in 36 states and achieved 115 consecutive quarters of record-breaking revenue while producing annual sales that surpassed $800 million. During this time it was the largest restaurant operation listed on the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange. As the company ascended and became a Wall Street phenomenon, Mr. Danner became legendary for his hands-on management style, often dropping by stores and training busboys on the job or serving as the short-order cook at a busy Shoney's or Captain D's. Mr. Danner retired from Shoney's in 1987 and established the Danner Company to develop investment opportunities. Over the years, the company has owned and operated a spectrum of international businesses including real estate, transportation, manufacturing, waste management and investment management. During the course of his career, Mr. Danner has been recognized with numerous honors. In 1980, he was named "Changemaker of the Year" by Institutions magazine. In 1985, he was named "Operator of the Year" by the Multi-unit Food Service Operators and was awarded the "Gold Award for Restaurant Excellence" by the Wall Street Transcript, which also recognized him as the "Best CEO in the Restaurant Industry". In 1985, Nashville City Bank named Mr. Danner "Nashville's Business Person of the Year" and one year later, he was named "National Salesman of the Year" by the Sales and Marketing Executives. In 1987, Danner was named to the Horatio Alger Society of Distinguished Americans, which includes such notable figures as former President Ronald Reagan, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo and Bob Hope. He also served as a director of Nashville City Bank and First American Bank. Mr. Danner will also be remembered for his unwavering philanthropic support of the educational, arts, civic, social and cultural framework of middle Tennessee. Throughout his career he has served as a founding donor of Vanderbilt Owen School of Business; Honorary Chairman of Sara Lee Classic; member of the Boards of Trust for Middle Tennessee State University and Franklin Road Academy; Co-chairman of the Bootstraps awards; Chairman of the Equality Venture Partnership; and was the 1st Chairman of the Metro Tourism and Convention Commission. He was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from West Virginia State University in 1992. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Al Menah Shrine Temple. A lifetime lover of music, Mr. Danner formed his own dance band in high school and played professional saxophone for decades. He enjoyed participating in the Shriner's Band. He also had a lifelong passion for golf which reflected his competitive spirit and love of the outdoors. Visitation with the family will be held at 815 North Curtiswood Lane, Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 from 4-7 p.m. Graveside service and interment will be officiated by Reverend Joseph P. Breen at the Danner Family Cemetery at Parkland Farm, 3071 Highway 31, Spring Hill, Tennessee on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Nashville State Community College Foundation. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111