McDonald's first widely used mascot was Speedee, a chef character associated with the restaurant's early branding.
The McDonald brothers introduced Speedee during the restaurant's early standardized-service period. The character's chef styling connected him with food preparation, while the name suggested the quick service that distinguished the McDonald's system from a traditional sit-down restaurant.
Speedee appeared before Ronald McDonald and before the Golden Arches became the company's dominant public identity. Early signs and advertisements used the character to make the restaurant's promise immediately understandable to motorists and local customers.
This history can be confusing because Speedee is also written as “Speedy” in casual recollections, and later McDonald's characters became much more prominent. The official branding name generally cited for the early mascot is Speedee.