Texas Roadhouse founder and CEO Kent Taylor committed suicide after fighting the long-term “unbearable” symptoms of COVID-19, the company said.
Taylor, 65, committed suicide on Thursday, the restaurant chain said in a statement.
The statement said Taylor had been experiencing post-coronavirus symptoms that had worsened – including severe ringing or ringing in the ear.
“Our community and the restaurant industry lost a legend and the Taylor family lost a wonderful son, father and grandfather,” said a joint statement from the company and family obtained by CNN.
“Kent fought and fought a lot like the former track champion he was, but the suffering that has intensified a lot in the last few days has become unbearable,” said the statement, according to McClatchy News.
Taylor had lost his salary from March 2020 until the rest of the year to allow funds to go to help frontline restaurant employees during the pandemic.
“We will miss you, Kent. Because of you and your dream of the Texas Roadhouse, we can say that we love our work every day, ”wrote the company in a tribute on Facebook.