The founder and Taco Bell and Sherlock Holmes are related!
Taco Bell’s founder was Glen William Bell, Jr. Born September 3rd, 1923 in Lynwood, California, he was a marine in World War II and started a hot dog stand called Bell’s Drive-In in 1948.
Four years later, he built a new stand that sold burgers as well, and soon after tacos were added. Through the 1950’s, his taco business grew until 1962 came along. That year, he opened up Taco Bell. You may remember that Bell died two years ago, on January 16, 2010.
His ancestor, Joseph Bell, had a very different story. Joseph Bell was born December 2nd, 1837 in Scotland. He was famous for being a professor at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh (and later being the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes).
Bell often lectured on the importance of close observation, and, like Sherlock, would often pick a stranger and deduce his occupation and recent activities. As a result, he became known as a pioneer in forensic science.
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle met Bell in 1877, he was just his clerk at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. So impressed was he by Bell’s skills of observation that he turned Bell into the character we know today. Bell passed away in 1911. Regrettably, neither man lived to see the Dorito Taco.
