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Colonel Harland Sanders Biography: Inspiring History of KFC

Colonel Harland David Sanders

In this success story we are going to share Colonel Harland Sander’s biography and history of KFC, an American restaurant chain that he founded.

Harland David Sanders was born on September 09, 1890, in Henryville, Indiana. His parents were Wilbur David and Margret Ann Sanders. The problems began when his father died, and Sanders was only 6 years old. His life changed dramatically. First, his mother went to work to a tomato-canning factory to feed the family. And Harland Sanders was required to be a babysitter and take care of younger brother and sister at home.

When his mother remarried, he escaped from home because his stepfather beat him. Sanders falsified his birth date and volunteered for the U.S. Army at the age of 15 years. He served a full term and ended his service in Cuba. During his early years Sanders had to work as a steamboat pilot, insurance agent, farmer and etc. Finally, he found a good regular job as a fireman in the U.S. railway company.

However, when Harland was already in his 40s, he had little capital accumulated over the years. He was disappointed in life. And, of course, he wanted to change it.

Harland Sanders bought a service station, motel and cafe at Corbin, a town in Kentucky.

restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken de Harland SandersHe was cooking chicken dishes and other meals. Soon his service station became famous throughout Kentucky. It was called “Kentucky Fried Chicken of Harland Sanders.” All customers noted the quality of its seasoning, which he prepared from 11 different spices. Being a Colonel, Harland Sanders developed his appearance starting to wear a white suit and black bow tie. And nowadays Harland Sanders is portrayed on the logos of KFC. This image quickly entered the hearts of ordinary Americans, who loved a small restaurant of Sanders.

He realized that could sell his recipe to other restaurants. With nothing to lose, Sanders took his spices and pressure cooker and traveled throughout the U.S. in his 1946 Ford.

In 1980, at the age of 90 years, Harland Sanders died. Harland Sanders is an example of hard work and persistence over years; nowadays KFC is the biggest a famous mark of fried chicken in the world.

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Colonel Harland Sanders Biography: Inspiring History of KFC. (2017). Astrum People website. Retrieved 1:47, May 10, 2017, from https://astrumpeople.com/colonel-harland-sanders-biography-inspiring-history-of-kfc/.

Time line

1. At age 6 his Father died.

2. At age 16 he quit school.

3. At age 17 he had already lost 4 jobs.

4. Between ages 18 & 22, he was a railroad conductor & failed.

5. He was rejected from law school.

6. He became an insurance sales man & failed.

7. At age 20 his wife left him.

8. He became a cook & dishwasher in a small cafe.

9. At age 65 he retired.

10. He decided cooking fried chicken, using a secret recipe of his creation.

11. At age 88 Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was a billionaire.

Read the profile again

Find the answers to these questions.

1. What year was born Harland Sanders?
2. How many siblings did Harland Sanders have?
3. What color is the suit that he used?
4. Which food can he prepare?
5. How many species contain his secret recipe of chicken fried?

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