The chairman emeritus of Brinker International Inc. was 78.
In 1966, Brinker used $10,000 and a $5,000 loan to launch Steak & Ale, which grew into 109 restaurants sold to Pillsbury Co. 10 years later.
He is best known for his transformation of Chili’s Inc. from a handful of hamburger joints into the publicly traded restaurant behemoth Brinker International, which owns three casual dining chains: Chili’s Grill & Bar; Maggiano's Little Italy, and On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.
Services are pending at Sparkman-Hillcrest.
