One such bro was Todd Mills. Mills passed away last week from brain cancer at the age of 41. He leaves behind a wife, two daughters, and the idea for the single greatest fast food invention of the last decade: the Doritos Locos taco. Mills, who never worked for Taco Bell, used to make taco salads with Doritos, and in a moment of inspiration pitched the chip-flavored taco shell to Frito-Lay four years ago, only to receive a “thanks, but no thanks.” Undeterred, he created a Facebook group, the “Taco Shells from Doritos Movement,” which quickly found widespread support online.
In the meantime, Frito-Lay arguably stole his idea. The company pitched the Locos taco to Taco Bell, and after a couple of years of experimentation, it rolled out and exploded. The chain sold 100 million in only 10 weeks; it's estimated that Taco Bell has created 15,000 jobs off its success. Mills never got a dime. NOT A DIME. But according to his friends, he didn't care. “Todd being Todd, he never asked for anything,” one said. “He said, 'I just want my tacos.'”
This man was a fucking saint. He should be remembered. If you've ever enjoyed a Locos Taco, the family asks, in lieu of flowers, that you post a picture on the Tacos for Todd Facebook page. And he leaves behind medical bills. Taco Bell, which made $1 billion off the idea this year, has only donated $1,000. The guy deserves more, and donations are accepted here.
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