Felix Stehling

{{Short description|American businessman and restaurateur}} {{Infobox person | name = Felix Stehling | image =  | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|4|2}} | birth_place = Fredericksburg, Texas | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|12|10|1927|4|2}} | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | burial_place =  | burial_coordinates =  | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = St. Mary's University | occupation = Restaurateur, investor | years_active = | employer = | organization = | known_for = | style = | boards = | awards = | website =  }}

'''Felix Louis Stehling, Jr.''' (April 2, 1927 – December 10, 2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://porterloring.tributes.com/obituary/show/Felix-Louis-Stehling-102531377|title=Felix Louis Stehling, Jr.|publisher=Porter Loring Mortuary|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> was an American businessman and restaurateur.<ref name=saxn/> Stehling and his brother Mike Stehling co-founded Taco Cabana, a fast food restaurant chain specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine, in 1978.<ref name=saxn>{{cite news|first=Neil|last=Morton|title=Stehling, Taco Cabana founder, dies at 87 |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Stehling-Taco-Cabana-founder-dies-at-87-4106622.php |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=2012-12-11 |access-date=2013-01-05}}</ref> Stehling is credited as the inventor of the beanburger, a now common dish in the San Antonio area, consisting of refried beans, Fritos and Cheez Whiz.<ref name=saxn/>

==Early life and education== Stehling was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, the second oldest of his family's eleven children.<ref name=saxn/> His parents were German Catholics who operated a men's clothing store.<ref name="TEMPEST">[https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/tempest-in-a-taco/ "Tempest in a Taco"], ''Texas Monthly''</ref> He graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio.<ref name=saxn/>

==Career== ===First restaurants and beanburger=== Stehling initially worked for an insurance company, but left that industry after just two years.<ref name=saxn/> He then owned and operated a series of restaurants and nightclubs in San Antonio, including the Crystal Pistol and the Bombay Bicycle Club.<ref name=saxn/> In 1952, he signed a three-year lease to rent a small, shack-like restaurant on Austin Highway from Frank Sills, the owner of the first Sills' Snack Shack.<ref name=saxn/> It was here that Stehling invented and first offered the beanburger.<ref name=saxn/> Stehling is credited as the inventor of the beanburger, a now common dish in the San Antonio area, consisting of refried beans, Fritos and Cheez Whiz.<ref name=saxn/><ref name=kens>{{cite news|title=Felix Stehling, Taco Cabana founder, dies at 87|url=http://www.kens5.com/news/Felix-Stehling-Taco-Cabana-founder-dies-at-87-182972021.html|work=KENS|date=2012-12-11|access-date=2013-01-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206013658/http://www.kens5.com/news/Felix-Stehling-Taco-Cabana-founder-dies-at-87-182972021.html|archive-date=2013-02-06}}</ref> Frank Sills later sold Stehling's beanburger creation at his own restaurants once Stehling's lease on the building expired.<ref name=saxn/>

===Taco Cabana=== In 1978, Stehling and his brother, Mike, opened the first Taco Cabana in San Antonio at the intersection of Hildebrand and San Pedro streets at the site of a former Dairy Queen, dubbing the restaurant "the original Mexican patio café".<ref name=saxn/> Felix Stehling's wife, Billie Jo Stehling, created the décor and overall interior look for the restaurant chain.<ref name=saxn2>{{cite news|first=Elaine|last=Ayala|title=Stehling created Taco Cabana décor |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/obituaries/article/Stehling-created-Taco-Cabana-decor-1372705.php |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=2011-05-09 |access-date=2013-01-05}}</ref> Margie Lopez Abonce was hired to prepare the food and menu.<ref name="TEMPEST"/> They made it a 24-hour restaurant because Felix Stehling didn't want to spend an hour every night working with patio furniture.<ref name=saxn2/> Mike Stehling later left the company in 1986. Felix Stehling kept five restaurants and the name, while Mike Stehling kept four outlets and renamed them TaCasita.<ref name="TEMPEST"/>

As of 1989, Stehling remained president of the company.<ref name="HUMBLE">[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/26/garden/how-a-humble-cut-got-a-fancy-price.html "How a Humble Cut Got a Fancy Price"], Florence Fabricant, ''The New York Times'', 1989</ref> Stehling made Taco Cabana a public company when the chain reached fifty stores, including locations in Austin and Houston.<ref name=saxn/> However, in 1994 Taco Cabana's board of directors ousted Stehling from the company.<ref name=saxn/><ref name=kens/>

===Spurs and charity=== Stehling was once a partial owner of the San Antonio Spurs.<ref name=saxn/> Outside of Texas, Stehling held real estate investments in Colorado.<ref name=saxn/>

He founded a charity which provided funding for the Special Olympics of Texas, his alma mater, St. Mary's University, and other charitable groups.<ref name=saxn/>

==Personal life== He married Billie Jo Stehling in 1960.<ref name=saxn2/> He had two stepsons.<ref name=saxn/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/Taco-Cabana-co-founder-Lynn-Moody-dies-14953579.php|title=Taco Cabana co-founder Lynn Moody dies|work=San Antonio Express-News|date=January 6, 2020|first=Patrick|last=Danner|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> As he grew older, he continued to pick up meals from Taco Cabana for him and his wife.<ref name="PICKUP">[https://www.expressnews.com/150years/economy-business/article/San-Antonio-serves-as-incubator-for-fast-food-6314911.php "Alamo City an incubator for fast-food chains"], ''San Antonio Express-News'', Richard Webner, June 9, 2015</ref> Billie Jo died on May 6, 2011, at the age of 86.<ref name=saxn2/> Stehling, who suffered from dementia during his later years, died on December 10, 2012, at the age of 85.<ref name=saxn/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stehling, Felix}} Category:1927 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Fast-food chain founders Category:American food company founders Category:American restaurateurs Category:St. Mary's University, Texas alumni Category:Businesspeople from San Antonio Category:People from Fredericksburg, Texas Category:American people of German descent Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Deaths from dementia