This article is about the American businessman. For other people called Colonel Sanders, see Colonel Sanders (disambiguation).
Colonel
Harland Sanders
Sanders in his iconic outfit, c. 1974
Born
Harland David Sanders
(1890-09-09)September 9, 1890
Henryville, Indiana, U.S.
Died
December 16, 1980(1980-12-16) (aged 90)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place
Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville
Education
La Salle Extension University
Occupations
Businessman
restaurateur
Years active
1930–1980
Known for
Founding Kentucky Fried Chicken
Spouses
Josephine King
(m. 1909; div. 1947)
Claudia Price
(m. 1949)
Children
3
Military Service
Allegiance
United States of America
Service/branch
United States Army
Years of service
1906–1907
Rank
Private
Unit
Wagoner
Battles/wars
Occupation of Cuba
Awards
Cuban Pacification Medal
Signature
Colonel[a]Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 –
December 16, 1980) was an American businessman and founder of fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (also known as KFC). He later acted as the company's brand ambassador and symbol. His name and image are still symbols of the company.
Sanders held a number of jobs in his early life, such as steam engine stoker, insurance salesman, and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. During that time, Sanders developed his "secret recipe" and his patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer. Sanders recognized the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. When his original restaurant closed, he devoted himself full-time to franchising his fried chicken throughout the country.
The company's rapid expansion across the United States and overseas became overwhelming for Sanders. In 1964, then 73 years old, he sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for $2 million ($19.6 million today). However, he retained control of operations in Canada, and he became a salaried brand ambassador for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In his later years, he became highly critical of the food served by KFC restaurants, believing they had cut costs and allowed quality to deteriorate.
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Colonel Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman and founder of fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky...
Hammond as ColonelSanders. In a planned rotation of actors, Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton and Rob Riggle portrayed Sanders in similar...
Claudia Sanders Dinner House is a restaurant in Shelbyville, Kentucky, United States, opened by KFC founder ColonelSanders and his wife, Claudia, in...
deceased KFC founder and mascot ColonelSanders. The curse was said to be placed on the team because of the Colonel's anger over treatment of one of his...
by its historical name Kentucky Fried Chicken) was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside...
franchise in 1952. Founder Harland Sanders initially developed his "Colonel" persona as a low-cost marketing tool. The Colonel's image is still used extensively...
granted to restaurateur Harland Sanders, who was commissioned by Laffoon in 1935. Laffoon, alongside his aide Colonel Anna Bell Ward, selected many notable...
the very late 1930s, Harland Sanders' gas station in Corbin, Kentucky was so well known for its fried chicken that Sanders decided to remove the gas pumps...
The Colonel or the Colonels can refer to: ColonelSanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager Jean-Charles...
employee, Tommy, to Corbin, Kentucky to buy chicken directly from ColonelSanders. Sanders is impressed by Cartman but has Tommy executed after discovering...
episode "The Veggie Monster" in 2012. In December 2020, Lopez starred as ColonelSanders in A Recipe for Seduction, a short film from Lifetime and KFC. In 2024...
reputation. During the conference call, Schnatter said, "ColonelSanders called blacks niggers and Sanders never faced public outcry". After the call, the marketing...
American businessman best known for having struck a deal with Colonel Harland Sanders to open the first KFC franchise. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah...
logo. ColonelSanders An 'abstract concept' who takes the form of a pimp or hustler. He is named after, and takes the appearance of, Harland Sanders, the...
including General Custer (among other styles) and the actor Monty Woolley. ColonelSanders would also qualify as having a Van Dyke. Jonathan Hyde wore a Van Dyke...
patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and...
December 2017, Knight was featured in an advertisement for KFC depicting ColonelSanders. Knight married makeup artist Paula Sutor on May 26, 1996, in a ceremony...
another new ColonelSanders: Norm Macdonald". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2015. O'Reilly, Lara (August 17, 2015). "KFC has another new Colonel – and it'll...
subjects also included Judy Garland. One of his last portraits was of ColonelSanders in 1973. His annual contributions for the Boy Scouts calendars between...
Beginning in May 2015, Hammond began playing the role of fast-food mascot ColonelSanders in an ad campaign for KFC, until Norm Macdonald replaced him on August...
Global Information
United States Army
Cuban Pacification Medal