James Whitman McLamore (May 30, 1926 – August 8, 1996) was an American entrepreneur, the founder and first CEO of the Burger King fast food franchise, along with David Edgerton.

McLamore invested in the Miami Dolphins for several years and reinvested in the educational institutions that impacted him at Northfield Mount Hermon and Cornell University.

[2] During his time at Cornell, he served in the United States Navy and was a member of the New York Alpha Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Dave Edgerton, the first franchisee of Insta Burger King from Jacksonville, Florida, opened his first unit in Miami, on March 1, 1954.

Concurrently, Edgerton, exasperated by the unreliable Insta machines, developed the flame broiler, a key innovation that distinguished Burger King from its competitors.

Davmor Industries was the manufacturing plant that produced and supplied all kitchen equipment, signage, tables, chairs, booths, for each new store.

In the early 1990s, McLamore was asked by Jim Adamson, then CEO of Burger King, to come back to support the company with his advice and consulting, particularly with the Franchise community.

This work underwent subsequent editing and republishing in 2020 under the title "The Burger King: A Whopper of a Story on Life and Leadership" by the McLamore Family.