McDonald's Corporation - Extremely Rare If Not Unique - circa 1959-67 Working Specimen Stock Certificate

This working specimen was issued for common stock of no par value for the McDonald’s corporation. It is countersigned and registered at the American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago. The document is printed signed by McDonald’s president and secretary.

This example has printed signatures of Harry J. Sonneborn and June Martino. 

Harry J. Sonneborn, born on June 12, 1916, and passing away on September 21, 1992, was an American businessman. He is best known for his pivotal role as the inaugural president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s Corporation.

Sonneborn’s journey began as a former vice president of finances at Tastee-Freez. During this time, he conceived an innovative business idea that would revolutionize the fast-food industry. He proposed that Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, purchase the land on which McDonald outlets would be built and then lease that land to franchisees. This business model, known as the “Sonneborn model,� proved to be incredibly successful, leading to the rapid expansion of McDonald’s. To facilitate these real estate deals, a specially formed corporation named “McDonald’s Franchise Realty Corp.� was established. The “Sonneborn model� continues to be an integral part of the corporation’s operations, and it is widely regarded as one of the most significant financial decisions in McDonald’s history.

In 1959, Kroc appointed Sonneborn as the first president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s. However, their relationship took a turn in 1967 when Kroc, driven by his relentless expansionist spirit, disagreed with Sonneborn’s conservative view. Sonneborn believed that the country was headed into a recession and that they should halt store construction. Consequently, Sonneborn resigned from McDonald’s on June 8, 1967, and Kroc assumed the position of president and CEO.

June Martino, born on August 10, 1917, and passing away on January 29, 2005, was an American businesswoman who made significant strides in the fast-food industry. In 1948, she joined Ray Kroc’s bookkeeping team and eventually rose to the position of Corporate Secretary, Treasurer, Director, and part-owner of McDonald’s Corporation.

After her parents fell ill during World War II, the Martino family relocated to a farm in Wisconsin. However, in 1948, June returned to Chicago in search of employment. It was during this time that she met Ray Kroc, who was seeking a bookkeeper to manage his rapidly expanding Multimixer milkshake business.

Ray recalled Martino’s presence, describing her as having an integrity-filled demeanor and a natural ability to handle problems. He also noted her warm and compassionate personality, a rare combination of traits. Despite her lack of bookkeeping experience, Ray was confident that she would quickly master the technical routines.

By 1955, Martino’s responsibilities expanded significantly. After Kroc opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, she took on the dual roles of managing the Prince Castle sales operation for multimixers and overseeing the fledgling McDonald’s Systems office. Remarkably, during a visit to the office by a young man selling bibles, Martino not only converted him and his wife into McDonald’s franchisees but also helped them establish a successful franchise in Waukegan, Illinois. This success became a model for other franchisees to emulate.

In the early years of McDonald’s, Martino opened her home to struggling franchisees visiting headquarters in Chicago. She also provided valuable advice to corporate staffers facing personal or family challenges. Despite having two sons of her own, Martino consistently demonstrated her commitment to others and made time for their needs.

Read More

Read Less