How The Real Colonel Sanders Actually Came To Despise His KFC Fast Food Franchise
KFC and its mascot Colonel Sanders are universally known, but fewer people realize that Colonel Sanders was actually a real person — not to mention the founder of the restaurant chain. And while he was a pioneer in the world of fried chicken, the Colonel eventually lost faith in his brand, threatening legal action against it. But what made the Colonel fall out of love with KFC? Well, the details are as complicated as the original recipe.
The breadwinner
Born in Henryville, Indiana, Harland Sanders was forced to grow up quickly, especially since his father passed away when he was just six years old. In order to feed his younger siblings, Sanders held down multiple jobs, ranging from farmer to insurance salesman, railroad fireman, and streetcar conductor. This tough start to life equipped Sanders with the determination he needed to make it big.
Unlikely origin story
In 1930, the Shell Oil Company approached Sanders with the opportunity to run his very own gas station. While the pay may have been underwhelming, Shell allowed Sanders and his family to live in the back. It was here that his love for cooking was born.
The showdown
As he began advertising his gas station, his aggressive campaign infuriated rival gas station owner Matt Stewart. As Stewart painted over Sanders' signs, Sanders arrived on the scene with two Shell executives. A raging Stewart pulled out a gun and shockingly killed Shell district manager Robert Gibson. In response, Sanders shot Gibson in the shoulder.
A dinner to remember
Once the dust from this incident cleared (and Stewart was sentenced to 18 years in prison), the Sanders were able to look forward to their favorite weekly event. Every Sunday night, Harland cooked his family a hearty feast consisting of ham, steak, and fried chicken. Soon enough, word spread of Harland's culinary skills.
