Potato king J.R. Simplot, U.S. fry innovator, dies

[bijou]

BOISE, Idaho (Reuters) - J.R. Simplot, the billionaire founder of the Boise, Idaho-based agriculture business that bears his name and who helped make French fries a staple of the American diet and waistline, died on Sunday at the age of 99, officials said.

After pioneering the first commercial frozen French fry in the late 1940s, Simplot eventually became a major supplier of Idaho potatoes to McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's. His privately held company, where he was chairman emeritus, reported $3.3 billion in sales in 2006.

An official at the Ada County Coroner's office said Simplot died at home on Sunday morning of natural causes.

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[Chris_]

NOOOOOOO!!!!! 

Rest in peace, Mr. Simplot.  You have made this world a better place.

*sniff* 

[Tess Anderson]

That's right - thanks for the french fries, J.R., I'm a big fan of them.

When I was lurking at the dump a little while ago, there were all these snide remarks to this thread - someone commented that he must not have eaten much of what he invented, since he lived to be a ripe old age. Gracious, as always.

R.I.P., Mr. Simplot.

[DixieBelle]

RIP Mr. Simplot. I cannot imagine life without your innovations!