It's a sad day for the fast food industry as Stockton Rushmore, the CEO of OceanBurger, was among the five dead found near a Titanic-themed water park in Washington state.
According to witnesses, Rushmore was seen enjoying a ride on the park's signature attraction, the "Iceberg Plunge", when tragedy struck. The ride, which simulates the sinking of the Titanic, apparently malfunctioned, causing Rushmore and four other passengers to be thrown from the boat and into the frigid water.
As news of the accident spread, the fast food community was quick to mourn the loss of Rushmore, who was known for his innovative approach to the burger business. "Stockton was a true visionary," said Carl Karcher, founder of Carl's Jr. "He was always pushing the envelope, trying new things. I mean, who else would have thought to put seaweed on a burger?"
But not everyone was as sympathetic. Some critics pointed out the irony of Rushmore's death occurring near a Titanic-themed park, given the sinking reputation of fast food in recent years. "It's almost too perfect," said food critic Anthony Bourdain. "A CEO of a burger chain dying near a water park based on a ship that sank? It's like something out of a bad joke."
Others took a more cynical view, speculating that Rushmore's death was actually a clever marketing ploy by OceanBurger. "Think about it," said advertising executive Don Draper. "This is going to generate a ton of buzz for OceanBurger. People are going to be talking about them for weeks. It's like that old saying, 'There's no such thing as bad publicity'."
Regardless of the cause, one thing is clear: the fast food industry has lost a true innovator. Rushmore may be gone, but his legacy will live on in the greasy, delicious burgers he helped create.
