HOT STUFF

 In 1977, the son of a Mexican immigrant got a job at the local Frito Lay plant in Southern California.  His name was Richard Montanez (put a squiggle over the n).  He couldn't read or write English very well, so he had a friend fill out his application.  He got hired as a janitor.  He was paid $4 per hour.  That was a big help to his family.  You see, he was the eleventh of their children.  

As his story goes, in 1988, he began working on a hot Mexican style coating for their Cheetos at his home.  He pitched them to management.  They marketed them beginning in 1990 with the name Flaming Hot Cheetos and were a huge success.  Richard went on the be a VP of PepsiCo.  He wrote his memoirs which were published not too long ago.  A Hollywood studio is preparing a movie about his life.  He spent a lot of time on the speaking circuit talking about his rags to riches story and has now retired.

What else can I tell you about him?  Most insiders in that industry say his story is a bunch of bologna.  What can I say now.  You see, I started writing this story before I found the recent LA Times article putting great doubt in his account of everything that happened.  It was such a feel-good story.  I don't know what to think.  He published a second memoir last year - sticking to his story.  Keep an eye out for the movie.  Eva Longoria has been chosen to direct it.