On October 5, 1902, McDonald's founder Ray. Crocker was born in Chicago, Illinois. 1903 The hamburger, familiar to Americans, was introduced at the St. Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louisiana, Missouri. 1940 Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald are born in Chicago, Illinois. Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald. Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald brothers founded the "Dick and Mac McDonald" restaurant in San Bernardino, California, the prototype for today's McDonald's restaurants. 1948 The restaurant introduces the principle of the "Fast Service System". 1955 CEO Ray Crocker opens a new restaurant in Illinois. Ray Kroc, CEO, opens the first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, as a distributorship and the company's ninth location. The first day's sales were $366.12. 1960 Ray Kroc officially launches the "McDonald's" franchise. Crocker officially changes the name of Dick and Mac McDonald's to McDonald's. 1961 Ray Crocker acquires McDonald's for $2.7 million. Crocker purchases McDonald Brothers restaurants for $2.7 million. Hamburger University is founded in Elk Grove, Illinois, to provide specialized training for McDonald's managers around the world. 1962 McDonald's sells its billionth hamburger and Ronald McDonald's makes its debut in Washington, D.C. 1967 McDonald's opens its first international restaurant in Canada 1968 The Big Mac is introduced and McDonald's establishes an international business unit 1972 McDonald's assets reach $1 billion 1973 The first Ronald McDonald House is opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first Ronald McDonald House is opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ronald McDonald House is dedicated to the families of children being treated for cancer or other deadly diseases. 1977 McDonald's officially adds a variety of prix-fixe menus to its restaurants nationwide. 1980 On the 25th anniversary of McDonald's, McDonald's opens its 1,000th international restaurant in Hong Kong, and international sales surpass $1 billion for the first time. 1984 The 50 billionth hamburger is sold; McDonald's founder Ray Kroc dies after a long illness. McDonald's founder Ray Crocker dies at the age of 81; in honor of Ray Crocker, the company establishes McDonald's. In honor of Ray Kroc, the company establishes the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities Fund, which supports a variety of children's programs in health care, medical research, education and the arts, and civic and social services. 1988 10,000th McDonald's restaurant opened 1989 McDonald's opens its first restaurants in China (Shenzhen) and the USSR (Moscow) 1992 McDonald's opens its first restaurant in Beijing, China 1993 McDonald's opens its first restaurant in Guangzhou, China 1994 McDonald's opens its first restaurant in Fuzhou, China 1998 McDonald's opens its first restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province, China