Reginald and René Webb of Webb Family Enterprises, franchise owner-operators of McDonald’s restaurants, have been named recipients of Honorary Doctors of Humane Letters degrees from Cal State San Bernardino.

“Through their company, Reginald and René support various early entrepreneurs and create a community of successful individuals, which in turn helps elevate the quality of people’s lives in our region,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “They are incredibly deserving of this recognition and we are proud to award them with honorary doctorates.”

The honorary doctorates will be bestowed on the Webbs at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, during  the fall 2021 commencement ceremony for the Jack H. Brown College of Business & Public Administration and the College of Arts & Letters at Coussoulis Arena.

Webb Family Services, founded in 1985, provides access, opportunities and resources for those who are pre-career, entry-level, early-life entrepreneurs, and career transitioning entrepreneurs to become their most successful self.

“Our purpose is to foster an environment of success for our family, our employees, the African-American community, and other communities of limited opportunity,” their website says.

The Webbs have created a truly family-entrepreneurial endeavor in their business dealings: their eldest son, Karim Webb, is the owner of four Buffalo Wild Wings in greater Los Angeles; their daughter, Kiana Webb, is president of Webb Family Enterprises; and their younger son, Kyle Webb, is the company’s chief financial officer.

As founder and chief executive officer of Webb Family Enterprises, Inc., Reginald Webb owns 16 McDonald’s restaurants that span the Inland Empire to Los Angeles, providing employment for more than 1,100 Southern California residents. Related firms include Webb Family Investments (which contains other family investments) and Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (which provides resources such as entrepreneurial workshops and support to Black businesses to help redirect and circulate capital in the Black community). 

Reginald Webb has served on various boards over the years. Since 2014, he has been a member of the University of La Verne board of trustees; Los Angeles Urban League; Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center; Los Angeles County Fair Association (1997 as a board member, 2007 as vice chair, and director emeritus in 2012); McDonald’s of Hawaii; and the Ronald McDonald Children Charities. 

His honors include the 365Black Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in 2004 at the second annual McDonald’s event. The award is in recognition of an honoree’s outstanding achievements in making positive contributions that strengthen the African American community.

Reginald Webb served in the United States Coast Guard after high school and then joined the civil rights movement in Los Angeles. After working with the Community Action Agency, part of the United States’ War on Poverty, he was recruited by McDonald’s Corporation in 1973. Promotions followed swiftly; he became director of the National Operations Department in 1978, then manager of the Los Angeles/Southern California region in 1980, and Los Angeles regional vice president in 1982. He left McDonald’s in 1985 to launch Webb Family Enterprises.

He has held several elected franchisee leadership positions, including chair of the National Black McDonald’s Operator Association, chair of the National Leadership Council (representing all McDonald’s franchises in the U.S.) and founding chair of the Global Operator Leadership Council (representing all McDonald’s franchisees worldwide).

When René Webb was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, the family began to work together in support of disease research in addition to their business efforts. This was only the beginning of their path as philanthropists as they have given back to the community ever since.

René Webb has been inducted to the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Hall of Fame in recognition of her efforts. Their additional philanthropic service includes the Learning Centers at Fairplex, Southern California Public Radio, the National Council of Negro Women and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Reginald Webb studied political science at California State University, Los Angeles. René Webb graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with an accounting degree.