"Mr. Egg McMuffin," Herb Peterson passed away on Tuesday, March 25th at the age of 89 years old. Peterson, along with his son and partner David Peterson, were the Owner/Operator's six McDonald's restaurants in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Peterson was the inventor of the restaurant's famous Egg McMuffin, which revolutionized the food service industry. Peterson, a Chicago native, opened his first restaurant in Santa Barbara in 1968, and three more restaurants were soon to follow. Modeled after his personal breakfast favorite, Eggs Benedict, Peterson asked a local blacksmith to make an iron ring to keep the eggs round and tidy as they were cooked for a hand-held sandwich. He presented his breakfast product in 1973, and within a few years, the sandwich became the platform for the breakfast business at McDonald's from coast to coast. Peterson truly embraced the philosophy that McDonald Owners must give back to the communities in which they serve. He and son David have raised more than $100,000 over the years to support local teachers and schools. David plans to carry on his father's legacy through his continued support of education and children's community programs.