Bob Wian

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title: "Bob Wian" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1914-births", "1992-deaths", "businesspeople-from-california", "american-restaurateurs", "big-boy-restaurants", "glendale-high-school-(glendale,-california)-alumni", "mayors-of-glendale,-california", "20th-century-american-businesspeople", "burials-at-pacific-view-memorial-park"] description: "American restaurateur" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Wian" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American restaurateur ::

::data[format=table title="infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Bob Wian
image	Bob Wian circa 1948.jpg
alt	Bob Wian about 1948
caption	Wian c. 1948
birth_date
birth_place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
death_date
death_place	Newport Beach, California, US
burial_place	Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California
spouse
occupation	Restaurateur, businessman, fry cook
years_active	1933–1969
boards
known_for	Founding Bob's Big Boy and the national Big Boy chain; inventing the double-deck hamburger
embed	yes
office	Mayor of Glendale, California
term_start	October 1948
term_end	April 1949
predecessor	Joseph F. Baudino
successor	George R. Wickham
signature	Bob Wian.svg
::

| name = Bob Wian | image = Bob Wian circa 1948.jpg | alt = Bob Wian about 1948 | caption = Wian c. 1948 | birth_date = | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | death_date = | death_place = Newport Beach, California, US | burial_place = Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California | spouse = | occupation = Restaurateur, businessman, fry cook | years_active = 1933–1969 | boards = | known_for = Founding Bob's Big Boy and the national Big Boy chain; inventing the double-deck hamburger | module = | embed = yes | office = Mayor of Glendale, California | term_start = October 1948 | term_end = April 1949 | predecessor = Joseph F. Baudino | successor = George R. Wickham | signature = Bob Wian.svg

Robert C. Wian (June 15, 1914 – March 31, 1992) was the founder of the Big Boy restaurant chain. The restaurant started as a 10-stool hamburger stand in Glendale, California, opening in 1936 with an investment of $300 raised from the sale of his car. Wian sold Bob's Big Boy and rights to the Big Boy chain to the Marriott Corp. in 1967 for $7 million ($ million in ).

Biography

Wian was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Robert E. Wian and his wife Cora. The Wians moved to Glendale in 1924 while the younger Wian was still a child. Wian served as the mayor of the city of Glendale from October 1948 to April 1949 replacing a mayor who was removed by a recall election. He continued on the city council but resigned in August 1948, citing conflicts with Bob's Big Boy and "a desire to make an occasional fishing trip". Wian was also a member of the service organization 20-30 Club, serving as president of the local Glendale club, governor of the Southern California district, and as national trustee.

After selling Big Boy, Wian remained as a Marriott vice-president and president of the "Big Boy Restaurants of America" division for about a year, then sat on the Marriott board for an additional year before retiring. As a board member, Wian recommended Marriott approach his friend Roy Rogers about the use of his name to rebrand the corporation's RoBee's Roast Beef chain.

Wian married Frances Abbott in 1935, who bore his only natural son, Robert Paul "Bobby" Wian (1936–1973). Following his divorce from Abbott in 1956, he married June Ealey-Baehler in 1957, becoming step-father to her son, Chapman "Chappy" Baehler, and daughter Barbara Baehler. The couple also adopted a son, Casey, and daughter, Julie. His joy in Casey and Julie, and his time with them too limited by business, influenced his decision to sell Big Boy.

Wian retired in the 1970s and enjoyed outdoor activities on his 800-acre ranch in Valyermo, CA where he lived until relocating to Newport Beach in 1985.

Wian died in Newport Beach, California, in 1992.

References

References

1. (September 11, 1935). "Vital Records: Marriage Licenses Issued". The San Bernardino County Sun.
2. (May 11, 1956). "Divorces Granted". The Los Angeles Times.
3. (October 5, 2007). "Wian, June". The Los Angeles Times.
4. (December 8, 1966). "Marriott-Hot Shoppes Negotiating Acquisition Of Wian Enterprises". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
5. Yamada, Katherine. (November 1, 2003). "Wian estate designated historical landmark". [[Glendale News-Press]].
6. . (October 5, 1948). ["Wian Sworn in as Glendale's Youngest Mayor"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367259/the_los_angeles_times/). *[[Los Angeles Times]]*.
7. "Mayors' Gallery".
8. . (August 11, 1948). ["Recall Ousts Mayor, Three Councilmen"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367435/the_los_angeles_times/). *[[Los Angeles Times]]*.
9. . (September 29, 1948). ["Four Elected to Glendale City Council"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16367340/the_los_angeles_times/). *[[Los Angeles Times]]*.
10. Lait, Matt. (April 1, 1992). "Robert C. Wian, Founder of Bob's Big Boy, Dies at 77". [[Los Angeles Times]].
11. (August 31, 1949). "Councilman resigns, wants to go fishing". The San Bernardino County Sun.
12. (June 10, 1944). "District 20-30 convention set". The Los Angeles Times.
13. (August 23, 1945). "Club to observe Founders' Night: Past presidents of 20-30 to be guests". The San Bernardino County Sun.
14. Searl, Laura. (June 9, 1986). "Big Boy's original Bob takes it easy in Newport". Orange County Register.
15. Hansen, Christian. (2002). "The Big Boy Story: King of Them All". Haagen Printing.
16. . (April 4, 1992). ["Robert C. Wian, Restaurant Founder, 77"](https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/04/obituaries/robert-c-wian-restaurant-founder-77.html). *[[The New York Times]]*.

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