Ken Selby

John Kenneth Selby (May 12, 1936 – May 12, 2012) was an American restaurateur and educator who founded the Mazzio's chain of restaurants. Selby started out as a junior high science teacher before pursuing his business interests.

Early life Selby was born on May 12, 1936, in Milburn, Oklahoma, His mother was a schoolteacher while his father worked in an oil field. Selby attended the school his mother taught at, which at the time was a "two teacher" school where Selby's mother taught grades 1 through 12.

Selby attended Northeastern State University where he graduated with a Chemistry degree in 1958. It was located across the street from the University of Tulsa campus

Personal life and death In 2009, Selby walked from Oklahoma City to Tulsa along Route 66 at the age of 73. His destination in Tulsa was the site of the original Ken's Pizza location.

Selby served on various boards throughout Tulsa, including the Indian Nations Boy Scouts of America, and Selby advocated for a bill in 2010 in the State legislature that would make all restaurants across Oklahoma smoke-free.

Selby died on May 12, 2012, his 76th birthday, after complications associated with lung cancer. Selby had been married to Debra (Debbie) Selby, and had five children and seven grandchildren.