Speedee was McDonald's first major mascot before Ronald McDonald became dominant.
Speedee appeared in the late 1940s and represented the McDonald brothers' Speedee Service System. The mascot was a chef-like figure whose name communicated the restaurant's central promise: fast, consistent service.
Ronald McDonald later became the better-known public face of the brand, especially in child-oriented television advertising. That transition means many people remember Ronald as McDonald's original mascot, but Speedee came first.
Speedee should also be distinguished from the McDonaldland characters. Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and the Fry Kids belonged to the later fantasy advertising world, whereas Speedee was tied directly to the restaurant's original operating concept and early visual identity.