by Josh Ozersky
NOTES
Introduction
1. “KFC Tries to Revive Founder Colonel Sanders’ Prestige,” USA Today, September 9, 2010.
2. James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America (Boston: Little, Brown, 1931), 404.
Chapter 1
1. John Ed Pearce, The Colonel (New York: Doubleday, 1982), 7.
2. Ibid.
3. Don Ledington, interview with the author, Lexington, KY, April 20, 2010.
4. In Pearce, The Colonel, 21.
5. Ibid., 107.
6. C. Wright Mills, White Collar (New York: Oxford University Press, 1951), 182.
7. Pearce, The Colonel, 31.
8. John Y. Brown Jr., interview with the author, April 20, 2010.
9. Harland Sanders, Life as I Have Known It Has Been Finger-Lickin’ Good (Carol Stream, IL: Creation House, 1974), 43.
10. Harland Sanders, Life as I Have Known It.
11. “Poultry Slam 1999,” This American Life, WBEZ, November 26, 1999. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/145/poultry-slam-1999.
12. “Kentucky Town Re-Examines Its Racial History,” NPR, March 10, 2007. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7772527.
13. Pearce, The Colonel, 51.
14. Ibid., 53.
15. Margaret Sanders, The Colonel’s Secret (Wellington, FL: Ibis Foundation, 1988), 101.
16. Duncan Hines, Adventures in Good Eating (Bowling Green, KY: published by Duncan Hines, 1935), 89.
Chapter 2
1. In Pearce, The Colonel, 86.
2. Ibid., 50.
3. In Philip Langdon, Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: The Architecture of American Chain Restaurants (New York: Knopf, 1986), 30.
4. In Edward G. Klemm Jr., Claudia: The Story of Colonel Harland Sanders’ Wife (Los Angeles: Crescent, 1980), 423.
5. R. David Thomas, Dave’s Way (New York: Berkeley Books, 1991), 57–61.
6. Harland Sanders, Life as I Have Known It, 98.
7. Calvin Trillin, The Tummy Trilogy (New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1994), 332.
8. Robert Darden, Secret Recipe: Why KFC Is Still Cookin’ after 50 Years (Irving, TX: Tapestry Press, 2002), 41.
9. The Colonel would dispute this late in life, claiming, “I built Kentucky Fried Chicken, not on the name of Colonel Sanders’ Chicken—I could’ve used that just as well—but I chose the romance and the love and the historical name of Kentucky to add to the product. I figured it would carry better worldwide than it would be to look like an ego on my part, to say it was my chicken.” The first commercial use of the name, however, was at Harman’s Salt Lake City store. “Friday Flashbacks: Tribute to Colonel Sanders,” WHAS-11 (Louisville, KY), November 20, 2009, video. http://www.whas11.com/home/Friday-Flashbacks-Tribute-to-Colonel-Sanders-70657897.html.
10. In John L. Crawford, It Wasn’t All Gravy (Louisville, KY: KFC Corp., 1981), 2.
11. Ibid., 6.
12. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 44.
13. Pearce, The Colonel, 114.
Chapter 3
1. Frederick C. Klein, “John Y. Brown, Rich and Taking It Easy,” Wall Street Journal, April 1, 1975.
2. Brown, interview.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. In Pearce, The Colonel, 125.
6. Harland Sanders, Life as I Have Known It, 126.
7. “Harland Sanders Is Dead at Age 90,” Louisville Times, December 18, 1980.
8. Brown, interview.
9. Margaret Sanders, Colonel’s Secret, 325.
10. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 84.
11. Brown, interview.
12. In Pearce, The Colonel, 137.
13. Brown, interview.
14. Darden, Secret Recipe, 104.
15. Ibid., 149.
16. Ibid., 149–150.
17. Ibid.
18. Margaret Sanders, Colonel’s Secret, 325.
Chapter 4
1. Mimi Sheraton, “For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Licking Bad,” New York Times, September 9, 1976. “Col. Sanders Is Cleared of Libeling Restaurant,” Washington Post, March 15, 1978.
2. “Franchising: Too Much, Too Soon,” Business Week, June 27, 1970, 54.
3. Yum! Brands 2009 Annual Report, 8.
4. William Poundstone, Big Secrets: The Uncensored Truth about All Sorts of Stuff You Are Never Supposed to Know (New York: Morrow, 1983), 20–21.
5. William Whitworth, “Kentucky Fried,” New Yorker, February 14, 1970, p. 40.
6. “The Visit,” What Is Cooking. http://pinesponderings.com/?p=14.
7. “Franchising,” Business Week, 55.
8. “Colonel Sanders Bowing Out,” New York Times, August 8, 1970.
9. Harland Sanders, Life as I Have Known It, 131.
10. Darden, Secret Recipe, 119.
11. Brown, interview.
12. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 121.
13. In Sheraton, “For the Colonel.”
14. In Pearce, The Colonel, 199.
15. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 122.
16. Ibid., 124.
17. Darlene Pfeiffer, interview with the author, November 15, 2010.
18. “Power to the People,” QSR Magazine, September 2000.
19. Darden, Secret Recipe, 132.
20. “Chain’s Fortunes Improved When It Rearticulated Its Mission and Strategic Plan,” Marketing News, July 9, 1982, p. 14.
Chapter 5
1. Darden, Secret Recipe, 136.
2. “The Education of Hicks Waldron,” Forbes, December 8, 1980, p. 98.
3. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 160.
4. Warren K. Liu, KFC in China (Singapore: John Wiley and Sons, 2008), 69.
5. In Darden, Secret Recipe, 170.
6. “Mayer a Key Ingredient in KFC’s Successful Formula,” Nation’s Restaurant News, December 15, 1986, p. F8.
7. “KFC Rules the Roost under PepsiCo’s Wing,” Nation’s Restaurant News, December 15, 1986, p. F3.
8. Darlene Pfeiffer, interview with the author, November 3, 2010.
9. Ibid.
10. In Richard L. Papiernik, “David Novak: The Pizza Hut/KFC Quarterback Builds a Better Team on His Drive to a Fast-Food Touchdown,” Nation’s Restaurant News, January 1997.
11. “New Colonel Misses Beat,” USA Today, July 12, 1999.
12. “Poultry Slam 1999,” This American Life.
13. Brown, interview.
14. “Getting Burned by the Frying Pan,” New York Times, March 20, 1990.
15. “KFC Shuns ‘Fried’ Image with New Name,” Nation’s Restaurant News, February 25, 1991.
16. David Novak, Adventures of an Accidental CEO (New York: Crown, 2007), 107.
17. In Papiernik, “David Novak: The Pizza Hut/KFC Quarterback,” NRN, p. D2.
18. Seth Stevenson, “What Does KFC Stand For Now?” Slate, May 3, 2004. http://www.slate.com/id/2099747.
19. In Rob Walker, “Chicken-Fried Bull,” Slate, November 10, 2003. http://www.slate.com/id/2090861. The press release was removed, wisely, by KFC.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Emily Bryson York, “KFC’s Stunts Make Nightly News but Don’t Stop Sales Slide,” Advertising Age, April 19, 2010, p. 1.
INDEX
Page numbers in italics indicate images.
American Dream, 3, 28, 86, 92, 118, 132
Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees, 83, 102, 114
boosterism, 14–15, 24, 32
Brown, John Y., Jr., 3, 47, 48–49, 102, 119; and KFC, 50–52, 78, 81–86, 87, 90, 93, 95–96, 114; and Sanders, relationship with, 48–49, 75–76, 84–86, 95, 100
Brown, John Y., Sr., 47, 48
Burger King, 123
Calander, Ray, 16
Church’s Chicken, 89–90, 108, 120–121
Colonel Sanders (persona), 1–2, 23–24, 29, 32, 34–36, 53, 61, 63, 68, 71, 74, 101; as goodwill ambassador for KFC, 52, 76–81, 83–86, 87, 90, 94, 99, 103, 121; television appearances by, 35, 43, 77–80; use of like
ness, after Sanders’ death, 105–107, 110–112, 117–120, 122, 130–132; white suit of, 25, 34, 35, 77. See also Sanders, Harland
Colonel Sanders Inns, 90
Colonel Sanders Museum, 104
Colonel’s Foods, 47
Colonel’s Lady’s Dinner House, 98
Columbus, Indiana, Chamber of Commerce, 17
Coolidge, Calvin, 15
Corbin, Kentucky, 19–20, 26–28, 32–34, 39
Cox, John, 101
Cranor, John, III, 113–115, 123–125
Cuba, 8–9
Darktown Strutters (film), 15–16
Doyle, Donald E., 113
eleven secret herbs and spices, 30, 36, 45, 93–96, 113; 99X mixture, 95–96
Franchise Advisory Council, 102
franchisees, 30–31, 33, 44–45, 51, 75, 98; corporation’s relationship with, 45–46, 83–85, 97–98, 101–103, 107, 114–116, 125–126, 128; Sanders’ relationship with, 45, 47, 75, 98, 103; suit of PepsiCo by, 46, 115–116, 125–126. See also Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees; franchising; Harman, Leon “Pete”; Pfeiffer, Darlene
franchising, 28–29, 45, 91; of KFC, 28–29, 76, 91, 110, 114–116; by Sanders, 30–31, 33–35, 39–47, 62
fried chicken: cooking of, 3, 22–23, 33–34, 36–38, 64–67, 95, 121–122; cultural history of, 22–23, 38, 105–106, 110–111, 124; eleven secret herbs and spices, 30, 36, 45, 93–96, 113, 128, 129; Extra Crispy, 37, 89–91, 108, 130; health concerns about, 92–93, 122–124, 127–130; mass production of, 23, 37; Original Recipe, 37, 91, 94–95, 98, 108, 125–126; and pressure cooker, 34, 36–39, 40, 41–42, 65, 81, 131; served at Sanders Cafe and Service Station, 21, 23–24
Froman M. Coots, 14
Gibson, Robert, 20
Grandin, Temple, Dr., 131
Great Depression, 19, 21
H. Salt, Esq., Authentic Fish and Chips, 90
Harman, Arline, 39–40
Harman, Leon “Pete,” 33, 36, 39–43, 46, 62, 75, 76, 89, 90, 103, 107, 109, 115–116, 128
Hell’s Half-Acre, 19, 42; shooting at, 20, 42. See also Sanders Cafe and Service Station
Heublein, 93, 96, 98–103, 107–108, 112, 114, 121, 130
Hines, Duncan, 24, 26, 77
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 31–32
Kamp, David, 117
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), 62, 72–73; advertising of, 35, 42–43, 45–46, 68, 77–80, 106, 117–122, 127–129; animal cruelty accusations against, by PETA, 130–131; branding of, 34, 36, 42–43, 76, 118, 125–129; competition of, 88–90; as a corporation, 4, 29, 44, 45–46, 75–76, 81–86, 87; finances of, 87, 91–93, 97, 103, 109; franchising of, 28–29, 76, 91, 110, 114–116; international expansion of, 110–112, 116; mismanagement of, by Heublein, 96–103; and name change to KFC, 93, 118–119, 122, 125–127, 129; naming of, 40, 136n9; product expansion attempts of, 89–92, 103, 119, 123–126, 129; “recolonelization” of, 107–108, 110; sale of, by Brown, 93, 96–97, 98; sale of, by Sanders, 26–27, 50–52, 75, 98; as a takeout restaurant, 41, 43, 76–77, 81
Kentucky Restaurant Association, 24
KFC. See Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
KFC Express, 119
King, Josephine, 10–11, 26, 27, 32
King, Kenny, 75
Ku Klux Klan, 15–17
Laffoon, Ruby, Governor, 24, 25
Ledington, Claudia, 7, 11, 30, 32–33, 35, 46, 47, 83, 95, 98
Ledington, Don, 10
Lewis, Stan, 78
Liu, Warren, 111
Louisville, KFC headquarters in, 45, 46
Lums, 102
Marion-Kay Spices, 95–96
mascots, corporate, 1–2, 18, 76, 99. See also Colonel Sanders (character)
Massey, Jack, 50–52, 75, 83–84, 96, 114
Mayer, Richard P., 109, 112–113
McDonald, Bill, 125
McDonald’s, 28, 43, 76, 82, 91, 107–110, 119, 128
Michelin, 18, 121
Miles, Michael, 107, 109, 110, 113
Mills, C. Wright, 12–13
Monk, Henry, 8
Mutual Benefit Life, 14
National Restaurant Association, 39
Novak, David, 92–93, 119, 125–126, 130
Panic of 1893, 5
Pearce, John Ed, 7, 8, 20, 25, 47, 84
PepsiCo, 29, 112–119, 123–126, 130
PETA, 130–131
Pfeiffer, Darlene, 102, 114–115
Pizza Hut, 29, 92, 116, 125, 129
Porky Pig House, 50–51
Poundstone, William, 94
pressure cooker, 34, 36–39, 40, 41–42, 57, 104
Prudential, 13
Quaid, Randy, 117
quick-service restaurant (QSR) business, 36, 122, 126
R. J. Reynolds Industries, 108–112, 123, 130
RJR Nabisco, 112
Rotary Club, 4, 14–15, 16; and Four Way Test, 15, 19
Salt Lake City, UT, 39
Sanders, Claudia. See Ledington, Claudia
Sanders, Harland, 53, 56, 60–61, 63–71, 74; army service of, 8–9; and auto accident, 18, 42; and Brown, Jr., previous business dealings with, 48–51; business sense of, 13–14, 17, 49–50, 52; and cafe business, 21–24, 26, 121; commission of, as colonel, 25, 31–32; criticisms of KFC by, 83–85, 90, 99–101, 121, 128; death of, 103–104, 105, 107, 125, 131–132; early life of, 2–24; and farming, 6–7, 8; and ferryboat company, 14; and franchising of Colonel Sanders’ Kentucky Fried Chicken, 30–31, 33–35, 39–47, 62, 95–96, 121; and gas station in Corbin, 19–21, 24–27, 32–33, 121; as insurance salesman, 13–14, 17; KFC corporation, relationship with, 75, 83–86, 97–101, 103, 105, 108; and the Ku Klux Klan, 15–17; and lack of education, 8, 17; legal career of, 11–12, 17; marriages and family of, 10–11, 32–33; as the Michelin Man, 18, 121; and motel business, 21–22, 24, 26; personality of, 3, 7, 11, 12–13, 24, 32, 50, 75,101, 132; and railroads, 9, 12; rerouting of U.S. 25, reaction to, 27–28, 32–33; as a Rotarian, 4, 14, 19, 24; sale of KFC by, 50–52, 75; and trip to Australia, 39, 40. See also Colonel Sanders (persona)
Sanders, Harland, Jr., 26, 51
Sanders, Josephine. See King, Josephine
Sanders, Margaret (daughter), 19, 22, 27, 41, 51, 52, 77, 104, 119
Sanders, Mildred, 27, 51
Sanders, Wilbert and Margaret Ann, 5–7
Sanders Cafe and Service Station, 21, 24, 26, 32–33, 58–59, 121–122; and rerouting of U.S. 25, 27, 32. See also Sanders Court and Cafe
Sanders Court and Cafe, 21–22, 24, 43, 58
Schone, Mark, 119
Shelburne, H. D., 20
Shelbyville, Colonel’s home and headquarters in, 44, 47, 49, 83
Shell Oil Company, 19–20
Sheraton, Mimi, 90, 100
Smalley, Earl and Winnifried, 44–45
Standard Oil, 19
Stevenson, Seth, 127
Stewart, Matt, 19–20
Summers, Bill, 96
Taco Bell, 29, 92, 116, 125, 129
television, 35, 43, 77–80, 106, 117–119, 127–128
Thomas, Dave, 34–35, 43, 120
Topmiller, Shirley, 103
Tortorici, Anthony, 101
Tricon Global Restaurants, 117, 126
Trillin, Calvin, 37
Waldron, Hicks, 108
Weatherby, Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor, 25
White Castle, 29–30, 87–88
Young and Rubicam, 117
Young Businessman’s Club, 14
Yum! Brands, 29, 92, 126, 130
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