When a new interstate reduced traffic at Sanders' own restaurant in North Carolina, he sold the location in 1955. His first franchise sale went to Pete Harman, who ran a restaurant in Salt Lake City where “Kentucky Fried Chicken” had the allure of a Southern regional specialty. In 1952, Sanders began franchising his chicken business. Sanders eventually moved his operation to a restaurant across the street and featured a fried chicken so notable that he was named a Kentucky colonel in 1935 by Governor Ruby Laffoon. Beginning at an early age, he held down numerous jobs, including farmer, streetcar conductor, railroad fireman and insurance salesman.Īt age 40, Sanders was running a service station in Kentucky, where he would also feed hungry travelers. After his father died when he was 6 years old, Sanders became responsible for feeding and taking care of his younger brother and sister. Harland David Sanders was born on September 9, 1890, in Henryville, Indiana. Sanders died in Louisville, Kentucky, on December 16, 1980. The company went on to become the world's largest fast-food chicken chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Eventually, Sanders focused on franchising his fried chicken business around the country, collecting a payment for each chicken sold.

(1890-1980) Who Was Colonel Harland Sanders?Īt the age of 40, Harland Sanders was running a popular Kentucky service station that also served food-so popular, in fact, that the governor of Kentucky designated him a Kentucky colonel.

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