Neal T. Baker, 84, a fast-food restaurant pioneer, died May 31 at his Redlands, Calif., home. Baker helped his friend Glen Bell build a hamburger stand in 1948 that evolved into Taco Bell, and in 1952 built his own stand that grew into Baker's Drive-Thru, a regional chain that made him a multimillionaire.
Deaths elsewhere
June 11, 2008 at 2:18AM
Karen Asrian, 28, an Armenian chess grandmaster who was ranked 92nd in the world, died Monday after suddenly losing consciousness, the Armenian Chess Federation said.
about the writer
He effectively lobbied some of Minnesota’s wealthiest citizens to contribute to his projects: “You were just compelled to step up and do whatever Joe wanted to do.”
![Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke was given a tour by volunteers of the new Armed Forces Service Center at MSP Airport. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/Q3HNZAFNKTA5J634KX553FFEPY.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)