For everyone who had a rough night and needed some comfort the following morning, your thanks should be sent to Mr. Peterson.

Herb Peterson, who was attempting to come up with a fast-food version of Eggs Benedict for McDonald’s when he invented the Egg McMuffin, died Tuesday in Santa Barbara. He was 89. Peterson started as vice president of the McDonald’s advertising firm, D’Arcy Advertising, in Chicago, and wrote the burger chain’s first national advertising slogan, “Where Quality Starts Fresh Every Day.” He eventually owned six McDonald’s franchises himself, in Santa Barbara, and his breakfast sandwich made its debut in one of his restaurants in 1972.

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