Ira Salls is an inspiration for her history-making role as a McDonald’s franchisee.
Salls, a Cincinnati, OH, native, graduated from Northern Illinois University and later earned both an MBA and a master’s degree in public administration from Northwestern University. She secured her franchise title in 1991, as she explained during an interview with WHAS 11 in 2021. Before becoming an owner and operator, she first worked at the fast-food chain as an accountant.
“I was hired by McDonald’s because I already had a degree and (was) a CPA. McDonald’s was forward thinking, and they wanted Black CPAs working in their accounting department,” she recalled to the outlet.
Salls’ pivot to owning her own McDonald’s locations led her to become the first Black woman franchisee of the chain in Kentucky and Indiana in 1991, the Louisville Business Journal reports. She would go on to become one of the company’s most successful operators, managing six locations in Louisville, KY.
She also understood the importance of lifting as she climbed. For the past 21 years, she has led the Black History Makers of Today, a $1,000 scholarship program for Black high school students.
“Part of McDonald’s, we give back to the communities we serve. When I think about how McDonald’s has afforded me so many opportunities, but also so many others before me and so many scholarships, it’s very important. They make a difference,” she told WHAS 11 at the time during Black History Month.
She later added, “There’s so much bad news, but they’re a lot of brilliant, bright, hardworking students that make a difference every day and will be making a difference in the future going forward. I want those students to have an opportunity to excel in their dreams.”
For her contributions, Salls was awarded the Golden Arch Award, which is only given to the top 1% of McDonald’s operators.
“It was such a surprise… So to be a part of that is just awesome. It blew me away,” she reflected to the outlet.
Salls has since passed away, on Oct. 27, 20024 and is survived by her husband, Thomas, and four children, Damian, David, Stephanie and John. Her funeral was held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, according to her official obituary.
“One of my favorite things about working in radio is the interaction you have with advertisers, and over time they become more than that. They become family. Such is the case with Ira,” Mark Gunn, vice president of programming for Aircom Media, expressed on the obituary’s tribute wall. “Over the last 4 years, I had the pleasure of personally working hand in hand with her when it came to creating her radio commercials… She blessed all of us with her love and commitment to Louisville, and she leaves a legacy that her family will continue to uphold.”
