McDonald's first official mascot was Speedee, introduced in 1948 as a small chef-like character.
Speedee represented the restaurant's original Speedee Service System, which emphasized fast preparation and standardized food. The character was commonly shown wearing a chef's hat and was associated with the early hamburger-focused identity of the business.
Speedee is sometimes confused with Ronald McDonald because both became recognizable McDonald's mascots. Ronald, however, was introduced later, in 1963, and eventually became the company's best-known character.
The Speedee identity faded as McDonald's branding shifted toward the Golden Arches and Ronald McDonald. The name still survives in historical accounts of the company's early visual identity and service model.