Austaco, LTD.

Richard (Dick) and Marian Dozier, along with Partners, founded Austaco, Inc. in 1968. The Doziers grew up in Oklahoma; they met in 1950 and they were married in January 1952. Dick played basketball for Oklahoma City University and the Air Force and he coached high school basketball for 12 years in Duncan, Oklahoma for the Duncan High School Demons.

In October of 1968 the first store opened in Austin, Taco Bell (store #411) on Burnet rd. Within two years three more stores were opened. The first RGM for Austaco, Inc. was none other than Dick Dozier. Dick, in his white shirt and black bow tie, worked his restaurants for seven years, squeaking out a living in this new concept in dining called “fast food”. Dirk began working in the stores around the age of 12, often running the store by himself.

In 1976 Austaco, Inc. began storing paper products and delivering them to the restaurants. It was then that Dick began using the motto: “Here to Serve” referring to the attitude that the Distribution Center should have towards the restaurants. Today, this company motto has taken a broader and more encompassing meaning-serving people on both sides of the counter.

In 1983 Dick and his partners parted ways. Dick retained sole ownership of the Austin area restaurants and the Austaco, Inc. name. Throughout the following years, Austaco, Inc. continued to grow. In 1986 Dirk was named CEO and Dave Polis was named CFO; in 1988 the creation of the Value Menu propelled Austaco, Inc. into new horizons and strengthened the company for its largest undertaking since inception. On August 15, 1989, the Doziers consolidated Austaco, Inc. by purchasing the restaurants that were spilt off in 1983 doubling Austaco, Inc. in size overnight.

In 1990 Rich Dozier entered into the family business and under Dirks’ leadership as CEO, Austaco, Inc. continued to prosper.

In 1996, Dick Dozier passed away from complications of leukemia. His vision to build a company that could last for generations had come true. He had trained and supported two of his four children to take over the company in leadership and ownership; Dirk as Chief Executive Officer/President and Rich as Senior Vice President/Chief Operations Officer. He also had developed an estate planning transfer program to ensure the future of the company.

In 1997, Marian Dozier was named Chairman of the Board and assumed a leadership position with her children.

In March of 1998, the Dozier Family purchased thirty-nine Pizza Hut restaurants in the Central Texas Area which they operated until 2005. At that time, Dirk and Marian decided to focus on their core business, Taco Bell and sold the Pizza Hut business. During that time, In July of 1999, Rich Dozier left the Company and moved to Medina, Texas in order to raise his 4 children in a small community and pursue a career in teaching.

In August of 2005 after much soul searching, Marian Dozier decided to exit the business and she sold her interest in the business to her remaining business partner, Dirk. Marian served in various capacities throughout her 37 years with Austaco, Inc. and is thought of by those who work for Austaco, Inc. as the heart and soul of the company. During her tenure at Austaco, Inc. Marian received numerous recognitions and awards including the Samaritan Center Ethics award in 2004. In 2003 Dick, Marian and Dirk were awarded the highest honors given by Taco Bell Corporation, the Glenn Bell Award. The award honors a franchisee for its commitment and contribution to its business community and to its local community as whole.

The new company, Austaco, LTD. is owned by Dirk Dozier in partnership with his wife Katie Dozier. Under Dirk’s leadership as CEO, which began in 1986, the Company has grown from 15 restaurants to the current size of over 70. Dirk honors his Father and Mother for their tremendous contribution to Austaco, Inc. and he looks forward to the challenge of continuing to grow this great company by living the company’s motto of “Here to Serve”, by taking care of Austaco, LTD.’s customers and its employees. Dirk and Katie and their Senior Staff have positioned Austaco, LTD. as a Company with a foundation that can support the plans for continued growth as one of the best franchisees operating in the Taco Bell system. 

Updated October 2005