Big Mac creator, Pennsylvania McDonald’s franchisee dies

This photo provided by McDonald's shows, from left to right: McDonald's Mac Jr., Big Mac and Grand Mac. McDonald's is testing bigger and smaller versions of its Big Mac as the world's biggest hamburger chain pushes to revive its business. The company says it's testing the Grand Mac and Mac Jr. in the Central Ohio and the Dallas areas, and will see how they do before deciding on a national rollout. (McDonald's via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT This photo provided by McDonald's shows, from left to right: McDonald's Mac Jr., Big Mac and Grand Mac. McDonald's is testing bigger and smaller versions of its Big Mac as the world's biggest hamburger chain pushes to revive its business. The company says it's testing the Grand Mac and Mac Jr. in the Central Ohio and the Dallas areas, and will see how they do before deciding on a national rollout. (McDonald's via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press November 30, 2016 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh-area McDonald’s franchisee who created the Big Mac nearly 50 years ago has died. Michael “Jim” Delligatti was 98.

McDonald’s spokeswoman Kerry Ford confirmed that Delligatti died at home surrounded by his family on Monday night.

Delligatti’s franchise was based in Uniontown, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh, when he invented the chain’s signature burger with two all-beef patties, “special sauce,” lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

Delligatti told The Associated Press in 2006 that Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald’s resisted the idea at first because its simple lineup of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and shakes were selling well.

But Delligatti wanted to offer a bigger burger and it went over so well it spread to the rest of Delligatti’s 47 stores, then went national in 1968.