{{Short description|American restaurateur}} {{infobox person | name = Bob Wian | image = Bob Wian circa 1948.jpg | alt = Bob Wian about 1948 | caption = Wian c. 1948 | birth_date = {{birth date|1914|06|15}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US<ref name="Abbott 1935" /> | death_date = {{death date and age|1992|03|31|1914|06|15}} | death_place = Newport Beach, California, US | burial_place = Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California | spouse = {{ubl|Frances Abbott (1935–1956)<ref name="Abbott 1935">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15160234/wianabbott_marriage_license/ |title=Vital Records: Marriage Licenses Issued |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |quote=WIAN-ABBOT—Robert Charles Wian, 21, Pennsylvania, resident of Eagle Rock and Frances Lenore Abbott, 18, New York, resident of Burbank. |date=September 11, 1935 |access-date=November 17, 2017 |page=17|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref><ref name="1956 Divorce">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20197471/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Divorces Granted|date=May 11, 1956|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 19, 2018|page=III–9|quote=WIAN. Frances L. from Robert C.|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref>|June Ealey Baehler (1957–1992)<ref name="1957 Marriage">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20197680/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Wian, June|date=October 5, 2007|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 19, 2018|department=Obituaries/funeral announcements|page=B9|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref>}} | occupation = Restaurateur, businessman, fry cook | years_active = 1933–1969 | boards = {{ubl|Robert C. Wian Enterprises|National Big Boy Association|Marriott Corp.}} | known_for = Founding Bob's Big Boy and the national Big Boy chain; inventing the double-deck hamburger | module = {{infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office = Mayor of Glendale, California | term_start = October 1948 | term_end = April 1949 | predecessor = Joseph F. Baudino | successor = George R. Wickham }} | signature = Bob Wian.svg }}
'''Robert C. Wian''' (June 15, 1914 – March 31, 1992) was the founder of the Big Boy restaurant chain. The restaurant started as a 10-stool hamburger stand in Glendale, California, opening in 1936 with an investment of $300 raised from the sale of his car. Wian sold Bob's Big Boy and rights to the Big Boy chain to the Marriott Corp. in 1967 for $7 million<ref name="wsj-1966dec08">{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/133077023 |title=Marriott-Hot Shoppes Negotiating Acquisition Of Wian Enterprises |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 8, 1966 |page=10 es |id={{ProQuest|133077023}}}}</ref> (${{Inflation|US|7|1967}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}}).{{Inflation-fn|US}}
==Biography== Wian was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Robert E. Wian and his wife Cora. The Wians moved to Glendale in 1924 while the younger Wian was still a child.<ref name="gnp-2003nov01">{{cite news |url=http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2003-11-01/news/export14730_1_casey-wian-robert-c-wian-landmark-celebration |title=Wian estate designated historical landmark |newspaper=Glendale News-Press |date=November 1, 2003 |first=Katherine |last=Yamada}}</ref> Wian served as the mayor of the city of Glendale from October 1948<ref name="lat-1948oct05">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367259/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Wian Sworn in as Glendale's Youngest Mayor|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=October 5, 1948|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=15|via=Newspapers.com |id={{ProQuest|165899170}}}} {{free access}}</ref> to April 1949<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayors' Gallery|url=https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/city-hall/mayors-gallery|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711095930/https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/city-hall/mayors-gallery|archive-date=July 11, 2021|access-date=September 21, 2021|website=[City of] Glendale, California}}</ref> replacing a mayor who was removed by a recall election.<ref name="lat-1948aug11">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367435/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Recall Ousts Mayor, Three Councilmen|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=August 11, 1948|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=B6|quote=Mayor Joseph F. Baudino and three Councilmen were recalled in a special election today, the vote running approximately 4 to 3 against them.|via=Newspapers.com |id={{ProQuest|165892776}}}} {{free access}}</ref> He continued on the city council but resigned in August 1948,<ref name="lat-1948sep29">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=September 29, 1948|title=Four Elected to Glendale City Council|page=2|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367340/the_los_angeles_times/|id={{ProQuest|165839553}}|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref><ref name="lat-1992apr01">{{cite news|last=Lait|first=Matt|date=April 1, 1992|title=Robert C. Wian, Founder of Bob's Big Boy, Dies at 77|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-01-me-242-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611152249/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-01-me-242-story.html|archive-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> citing conflicts with Bob's Big Boy and "a desire to make an occasional fishing trip".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17100841/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|title=Councilman resigns, wants to go fishing|date=August 31, 1949|work=The San Bernardino County Sun|access-date=February 2, 2018|page=14|quote=His resignation from the council was accepted yesterday after he said his business interests and 'a desire to make an occasional fishing trip' conflicted with his civic job.|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> Wian was also a member of the service organization 20-30 Club, serving as president of the local Glendale club, governor of the Southern California district,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15558338/wian_2030_club/|title=District 20-30 convention set|date=June 10, 1944|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 4, 2017|page=18|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref> and as national trustee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16873092/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|title=Club to observe Founders' Night: Past presidents of 20-30 to be guests|date=August 23, 1945|work=The San Bernardino County Sun|access-date=January 26, 2018|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}}</ref>
After selling Big Boy, Wian remained as a Marriott vice-president and president of the "Big Boy Restaurants of America" division for about a year, then sat on the Marriott board for an additional year before retiring. As a board member, Wian recommended Marriott approach his friend Roy Rogers about the use of his name to rebrand the corporation's RoBee's Roast Beef chain.
Wian married Frances Abbott in 1935,<ref name="Abbott 1935" /> who bore his only natural son, Robert Paul "Bobby" Wian (1936–1973). Following his divorce from Abbott in 1956,<ref name="1956 Divorce" /> he married June Ealey-Baehler in 1957, becoming step-father to her son, Chapman "Chappy" Baehler, and daughter Barbara Baehler.<ref name="1957 Marriage" /> The couple also adopted a son, Casey, and daughter, Julie. His joy in Casey and Julie, and his time with them too limited by business, influenced his decision to sell Big Boy.<ref name="Searl 1986" >{{Cite news|last=Searl|first=Laura|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/robert-thomas-other-articles-clipping-jun-09-1986-145884//|title=Big Boy's original Bob takes it easy in Newport|date=June 9, 1986|work=Orange County Register|access-date=April 23, 2020|location=Santa Ana, CA|pages=D1, D4|quote='And my kids were growing up before my eyes. I decided it was time to leave.'|via=newspaperarchive.com}} {{free access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hansen|first=Christian|title=The Big Boy Story: King of Them All|publisher=Haagen Printing|year=2002|isbn=9780967194363|location=Santa Barbara|pages=130–131}}</ref>
Wian retired in the 1970s and enjoyed outdoor activities on his 800-acre ranch in Valyermo, CA where he lived until relocating to Newport Beach in 1985.<ref name="lat-1992apr01" />
==Death== Wian died in Newport Beach, California, in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/04/obituaries/robert-c-wian-restaurant-founder-77.html |title=Robert C. Wian, Restaurant Founder, 77 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 4, 1992 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wian, Bob}} Category:1914 births Category:1992 deaths Category:Businesspeople from California Category:American restaurateurs Category:Big Boy Restaurants Category:Glendale High School (Glendale, California) alumni Category:Mayors of Glendale, California Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Burials at Pacific View Memorial Park