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Howard Johnson (Hotelier)

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (February 2, 1897-June 20, 1972)
    Born in Boston, Massachusetts
    Opened an ice cream stand (1925)
    Converted to a full-service restaurant (1929)
    Founded the first Howard Johnson's motel (1954)

Why he might be annoying:

    He said of his restaurants' signature 28 flavors, 'I thought I had every flavor in the world.' (Somehow, Baskin Robbins managed to find three extras.)
    His personalized license plate was HJ-28.
    He said, 'My hobby is to talk and eat food.'
    The restaurant chain bearing his name went from being America's largest (in 1965, it outsold McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken combined) to having only three restaurants remaining in 2010.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served with the American Expeditionary Force in France during WWI.
    When banks were unwilling to him lend money for expansion during the Depression, he pioneered franchising, providing owners the name, logo and food for a fee (1935).
    Even after turning over the company to his son, he would scout new hotel and restaurant locations and perform unannounced inspections of restaurants for cleanliness and proper food preparation.
    The hotel chain bearing his name survived in much better shape than the restaurants.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 50 Votes: 68.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying