The Associated Press: Herb Peterson, who invented the Egg McMuffin as a way to introduce breakfast to McDonald's restaurants, died March 25 at age 89.
Peterson began his career with McDonald's Corp. as vice president of the company's advertising firm, D'Arcy Advertising, in Chicago. He wrote McDonald's first national advertising slogan, "Where Quality Starts Fresh Every Day." He eventually became a franchisee and was co-owner and operator of six McDonald's restaurants in Santa Barbara and Goleta, Calif.
Peterson came up with idea for the signature McDonald's breakfast item in 1972. The egg sandwich consisted of an egg that had been formed in a Teflon circle with the yolk broken, topped with a slice of cheese and grilled Canadian bacon. It was served open-faced on a toasted and buttered English muffin.
