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 Harland David "Colonel" Sanders
N 38° 14.830 W 085° 42.613
16S E 612860 N 4234025
A Kentucky Colonel who sold Fried Chicken that was "Finger Lickin' Good."
Waymark Code: WMGKD
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/06/2006
Views: 226
Harland David Sanders was born on September 9, 1890 in Henryville, Indiana and grew to become one of the most famous figures of the 20-century. At the age of 40, he began selling fried chicken to people who patronized his service station in Corbin, Kentucky. By word of mouth the news of Mr. Saunders tasty chicken soon spread and he had more chicken business than his small service station could handle. He soon opened a motel/restaurant where he perfect his “secret recipe of 11- herbs and spices,” and was on his way to becoming the known the world over for chicken that was “Finger lickin’ Good.” I 1935 Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon made Harland an honorary “Kentucky Colonel” and the legend of Colonel Saunder’s Kentucky Fride Chicken was Complete. Colonel Saunders adopted the role of a distinguished Kentucky Colonel dressing in a white suit with a black bowtie and promoting himself as Colonel Saunders. The Colonel would drive himself from restaurant to restaurant cooking chicken and selling franchises and soon became one of the largest fast food chains in the world.
Colonel Sanders remained true to his image until his death on December 16, 1980 at the age of 90. One of Kentucky’s favorite citizens was afforded Kentucky’s Highest honor when he lay in repose in the rotunda of the State Capitol prior to his burial at Louisville Historic Cave Hill Cemetery.
Description:
Harland David Sanders was born on September 9, 1890 in Henryville, Indiana. During his teen years, Sanders worked many jobs, including firefighter, steamboat driver, insurance salesman, and he served as an Army private in Cuba.
At the age of 40, Sanders made chicken for people who passed by his service station in Corbin, Kentucky. He didn't have a restaurant then, but served the diners in his living quarters in the service station. Eventually, his local popularity grew, and Sanders moved to a motel and restaurant that seated 142 people and began working as the chef. Over the next nine years, he perfected his method of cooking chicken that used the same eleven herbs and spices that are used today at KFC. He also made use of a pressure cooker that enhanced the flavor and allowed the chicken to be cooked much faster than pan-frying. He was given the honorary title "Kentucky colonel" in 1935 by Governor Ruby Laffoon. Unlike most people who receive this title, Sanders chose to call himself "Colonel" and to dress in a stereotypical "southern gentleman" costume as a way of self-promotion.
Sanders was forced to sell his property in order to make way for Interstate 75. He lived off his Social Security checks, and based his entire career on his ability to cook.
Confident of the quality of his fried chicken, the Colonel devoted himself to the chicken franchising business that he started in 1952, the first franchise being setup on 3900 South State Street in Salt Lake City. He traveled across the country by car from restaurant to restaurant, cooking batches of chicken for restaurant owners and their employees. If the reaction was favorable, he entered into a handshake agreement on a deal that stipulated a payment to him of a nickel for each chicken the restaurant sold. His devoted work turned his small business, Kentucky Fried Chicken, into one of the largest fast food chains in existence. He himself became one of the most recognizable people in the world.
Colonel Sanders suffered from leukemia and died on December 16, 1980 at age 90. The beloved Kentucky Colonel was afforded the Kentucky’s highest honor when he lay in repose in the rotunda of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. He was buried in his characteristic white suit and black bow tie in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Date of birth: 09/09/1890
Date of death: 12/16/1980
Area of notoriety: Other
Marker Type: Monument
Setting: Outdoor
Visiting Hours/Restrictions: 8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Fee required?: No
Web site: [Web Link]
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