Gust E. Lundberg
Encyclopedia
Gust E. "Brick" Lundberg (February 7, 1920 - March 1977) was the founder of the Sandy's
fast-food restaurant chain and Laureate of the American National Business Hall of Fame
.
. He attended the University of Illinois
and immediately after graduation received a commission in the Air Force. During the war Lundberg was an adjutant
with the 387th bomb group and after the war he partnered with the group's flight surgeon to buy Culligan
Soft Water franchises in Kewanee and Macomb, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1948, after the death of his older brother, Brick returned to Kewanee to be near his father. He opened a store, Kewanee Rite, to market some of his father's inventions and became actively involved in the town's civic organizations, so much so that the Kewanee Junior Chamber of Commerce
named him Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1951 and in 1955 (he received the same award for the State of Illinois that year).
Lundberg was known for his ability to inspire people to operate as part of a team and achieve more than they thought possible, as demonstrated by his success in revitalizing the local National Guard unit and achieving the building of a new armory for the town.
franchises outside the state of California. Although their restaurant was successful, differences with McDonald's founder Ray Kroc
led the group to open their own regional restaurant chain which they called Sandy's. The Sandy's restaurants were a smaller, less-corporate and more-personal chain; Lundberg made it a habit to visit every single Sandy's personally on a regular basis and get to know every employee. His warmth and encouragement made everyone he encountered feel valued and inspired.
The Sandy's chain grew from just 7 stores in 1959 to 121 in 1966, at which point Lundberg opted to step down (remaining Chairman of the Board
) and spend more time with his family. He also returned to his community responsibilities, raising $200,000 towards establishment of a community college
in Kewanee and persuading Black Hawk College
, a two-year school, to open a campus there. In recognition of his efforts, the new college named its library after him (now the Gust E. Lundberg Learning Resources Center).
Brick returned to active duty with Sandy's briefly in the early 1970s to revitalize it and then oversee its merger with Hardee's
. After the merger Lundberg retired permanently, but Jack Laughery
, CEO of Sandy's, accepted a position with the new expanded Hardee's, giving Lundberg the satisfaction of seeing many of his management principles adopted.
Sandy's
Sandy's was the name of a chain of fast-food restaurants begun in 1956 by four business men from Kewanee, Illinois: Gus "Brick" Lundberg, Robert C. Wenger, Paul White and W. K. Davidson.-Beginnings:...
fast-food restaurant chain and Laureate of the American National Business Hall of Fame
American National Business Hall of Fame
The American National Business Hall of Fame , established in 1972, as the result of an idea by Willard F. Rockwell, Jr. and Alan Hilburg...
.
Background
Brick Lundberg was born in 1920 in Kewanee, IllinoisKewanee, Illinois
Kewanee is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. "Kewanee" is the Winnebago word for prairie chicken, which lekked there. The population was 12,916 at the 2010 census, down from 12,944 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. He attended the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and immediately after graduation received a commission in the Air Force. During the war Lundberg was an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
with the 387th bomb group and after the war he partnered with the group's flight surgeon to buy Culligan
Culligan
Culligan is an international water purification company headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. Culligan specializes in water softeners, water filtration systems and bottled water for residential and office applications....
Soft Water franchises in Kewanee and Macomb, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1948, after the death of his older brother, Brick returned to Kewanee to be near his father. He opened a store, Kewanee Rite, to market some of his father's inventions and became actively involved in the town's civic organizations, so much so that the Kewanee Junior Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
named him Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1951 and in 1955 (he received the same award for the State of Illinois that year).
Lundberg was known for his ability to inspire people to operate as part of a team and achieve more than they thought possible, as demonstrated by his success in revitalizing the local National Guard unit and achieving the building of a new armory for the town.
Career
In 1956 he partnered with three friends -- Paul White, Robert C. Wenger and W.K. Davidson -- to buy one of the first McDonald'sMcDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
franchises outside the state of California. Although their restaurant was successful, differences with McDonald's founder Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc
Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc was an American fast food businessman who joined McDonald's in 1954 and built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world. Kroc was included in Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century, and amassed a fortune during his lifetime...
led the group to open their own regional restaurant chain which they called Sandy's. The Sandy's restaurants were a smaller, less-corporate and more-personal chain; Lundberg made it a habit to visit every single Sandy's personally on a regular basis and get to know every employee. His warmth and encouragement made everyone he encountered feel valued and inspired.
- In working with the board, I used to have to do cash flow, project sales, percents of increases…and I really didn’t think I could do it...(but) Brick came down and talked to me one day, and I thought (afterwards) I could do six times more than what he wanted me to do...He gave me the determination and made me feel that I was a chosen one; I really, really (felt) chosen. (Anne Bower, secretary)http://www.anbhf.org/laureates/lundberg.html
- They’d see other people come in big Cadillacs and Lincolns, and not talk to ‘em, then there would come Brick Lundberg, Chairman of the Board and President of Sandy’s in his little Rambler. He’d pull in the lot, get out, pick up a cup, pick up a wrapper, come in the store, dispose of the paper products he found in the lot that shouldn’s have been there (and he’d get a message across without saying a word: your lot’s dirty!), and he’d walk in and shake everybody’s hand; he was really happy to see ‘em all! (unknown employee)http://www.anbhf.org/laureates/lundberg.html
The Sandy's chain grew from just 7 stores in 1959 to 121 in 1966, at which point Lundberg opted to step down (remaining Chairman of the Board
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
) and spend more time with his family. He also returned to his community responsibilities, raising $200,000 towards establishment of a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Kewanee and persuading Black Hawk College
Black Hawk College
Black Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in the city of Moline and near Kewanee, Illinois.-History:Black Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in Moline and in Galva, Illinois...
, a two-year school, to open a campus there. In recognition of his efforts, the new college named its library after him (now the Gust E. Lundberg Learning Resources Center).
Brick returned to active duty with Sandy's briefly in the early 1970s to revitalize it and then oversee its merger with Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
. After the merger Lundberg retired permanently, but Jack Laughery
Jack Laughery
Jack Laughery was an American restaurant investor and consultant, the former CEO and chairman of the Hardee's restaurant chain....
, CEO of Sandy's, accepted a position with the new expanded Hardee's, giving Lundberg the satisfaction of seeing many of his management principles adopted.
Legacy
- Western Illinois UniversityWestern Illinois UniversityWestern Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
named the Gust E. Lundberg Award, a leadership award after him - Black Hawk CollegeBlack Hawk CollegeBlack Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in the city of Moline and near Kewanee, Illinois.-History:Black Hawk College is a community college with campuses located in Moline and in Galva, Illinois...
established the Brick Lundberg Scholarship in his name.