Taco Bell founder dies at age 86

San Bernardino, Calif. Glen W. Bell, Jr., founder of the Taco Bell fast-food chain, died Sunday at the age of 86.

No cause of death has been given for Bell, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 1985.

The taco entrepreneur entered the fast-food business in 1951 from a drive-in location in San Bernardino, Calif. His first restaurant under the Taco Bell banner opened in March 1962 in Downey, Calif.

PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell in 1978 for $125 million and eventually spun off its restaurants into Tricon Global Restaurants, now known as Yum Brands.

Taco Bell serves more than 36 million customers each week in more than 5,600 U.S. locations.