Burger Boy Restaurant was bustling Monday, with customers dining on everything from sinfully delicious burgers to the day’s special. But while the mood was energetic and upbeat, condolences were being passed by nearly every diner in the place. On Saturday, Dean Ramsey Sr., the founder of the beloved Burger Boy, died at the age of 76.

His life will be celebrated at his funeral today.

Ramsey opened Burger Boy in October of 1961.

“He always wanted to have his own business,” son Robbie Ramsey said. “He had always been partners with someone else. Daddy always wanted to have a place of his own.”

Shortly after he opened the doors, Ramsey invited Raymond Asher, a well-known radio announcer, to come in for a free meal. Reportedly, Asher wasn’t overly enthused by the invitation, but agreed to dine one afternoon. There, he was served a Burger Boy platter and a slice of strawberry pie for dessert.

Asher was deeply impressed by the meal.

“If you keep cooking like you are, you won’t have to worry about business,” Asher told Ramsey.

With Ramsey in the kitchen as well as running the front, Burger Boy continued to grow in popularity, eventually becoming a staple on the dining scene. Along the way, he made a lot of friends, one of them health inspector Tim Vorbeck.

“I knew Dean well,” he said. “He was a kind-hearted, soft-spoken person. He always treated his customers well. He was just easy to get along with. Just a fine gentleman ... This place is still going strong because of the foundation he laid years ago. He was an all-around good guy and a very good business man.”

Friend Jack Bruner agreed.

“I’ve known Dean for some years,” he said. “He was just an excellent individual. I really appreciated the fact I had an opportunity to be acquainted with him and associated with him on occasion. When I was on the school board, we went up (to the restaurant) every night after the meeting. I thought it was excellent. I’m very sorry about his passing. He was a good person.”

He was also known for being a good dad.

“He was a loving, kindly father,” Robbie Ramsey said. “He would do anything for his family and anything for his friends. He was always friendly and jolly. He’d help you in a time of need ... He’s done everything in the world for this community.”

Ramsey stayed at the helm of Burger Boy until 1982, when he handed over the reins to his son Robbie, who continues to grow the restaurant’s legacy.

After stepping down, Ramsey didn’t slide into an easy retirement. Instead, he became a life insurance agent and then a registered securities agent, a job he kept until 1997.

During his long career, he was elected chairman of the Laurel County Republican Party, a seat he held for two terms. He also served as president of the Laurel County Shrine Club and was an honorary member of the London-Laurel County Tourist Commission board. In that time, he even helped design the logo for the World Chicken Festival.

Ramsey had recently moved back to Laurel County after living in Cape Coral, Fla., for 14 years.

“He wanted to be close to his family,” Robbie Ramsey said.

Ramsey is survived by his wife Phyllis Maurer Ramsey and children Robbie and Dean Ramsey, Mary Lou Allen, Jeff Wagoner and Terrie Greer

Dean Ramsey Sr.’s funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 at House-Rawlings Funeral Home with Pastor Ronnie Owens officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lexington Shriners Hospital.



Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.