Harland Sanders was born in September 1890 near Henryville Indiana U.S.A. He dropped out of school in sixth grade despite being hardworking and smart. He was to become a farm hand aged 12, then Army mule tender, Locomotive fireman, Railroad section hand, Aspiring lawyer, Insurance salesman, Ferryboat entrepreneur, amateur obstetrician, political candidate, petrol station operator, Motel owner and restaurateur. His father died when he was five not long after his sister Catherine was born after which Mama Harland had to raise the family on her own. She took no nonsense from the children, looked after farmland and animals, ensured the children went to church on Sunday. "Always tell the truth and be kind to one another"’ she would say. Harland was able to make a loaf of bread aged 7 and later feared telling his mother when he was fired from his first job.
The family moved to Greenwood after his mother took up with Mr Broddens but Harland could not get on with his new stepfather, this relationship had not turned out for his mother either so Harland left home with a battered suitcase to find work. He lied about his age to get into the army but was troubled by his Mothers words to always tell the truth so he came out of the army after 4 months after a posting in Cuba. He then got a job on the railroad emptying ash from the fire box, then as fireman stoking the engine at the age of 16. At this time he encountered Josephine King outside the local cinema and after a few weeks asked her to marry him.
They set up home in Tuscumbia Alabama. Harland soon began studying law by correspondence and practiced in the J.O.P. courts dealing with minor compensation claims but an incident with a loan shark led to a change in legislation that put him out of a job. Admiring his cousins for going around in suits he took up a new career in Insurance so was able to support his two young children as well as his elderly mother. He gave the job everything, working long hours and soon gained promotion but his unusual methods conflicted with company rules and regulations so he went on to run a wooden steam wheeler ferryboat at Jeffersonville. At this time he was struck by the Rotary club slogan Truth, Fairness, Goodwill, Friendship and Benefit and wanted to live by it. He became involved with them and went on to found a young businessman’s club.
Life was never dull, he once fought with a local bully and on another occasion drove his car over a bridge as it collapsed beneath him. He then moved onto Nicholasville and began in business opening up a petrol station which soon collapsed following the stock market crash. This just made him more determined and when the shell oil company offered to build him a place at Corbin Kentucky he soon added a roadside restaurant because he realised the large volume of traffic that passed by, including truckers all needed something to eat. His business was a success and he used some of his money to help the poor and although he saw these as Christian virtues, he knew that he was not living for God and never ever went to church.
Tragedy then struck as his 20 year old son died from food poisoning and his marriage of 39 years came to an end, this had followed on from his expanding restaurant businesses failing due to the great depression and the Second World War. After suffering huge losses he briefly went onto social security. He eventually married Claudia one of his early employees and when most people were thinking of retiring Harland decided that he could fry chicken and it tasted good. People liked his recipe with herbs and spices, K.F.C. had arrived and he wanted to franchise it but didn’t know how so he prayed to God. He then went to Australia to a Christian conference because he wanted to overcome his habit of swearing which bothered him and on his return the KFC sign had been placed over the Restaurant door by his wife. He then began travelling all over the U.S.A. often sleeping in the back of his car before negotiating franchises and despite many setbacks he persevered because he knew he had a strong product. A chance remark by a friend who called him "Colonel" led to his worldwide commercial identity. He gave demonstrations wearing his trademark long coat, white hair, beard and mustache and by 1960 he had 2,000 restaurants in the USA, the largest food franchise.
He had an image of decency, gave to charity and good causes but something still troubled him particularly his swearing. He was blessed with business success and felt that God was on his side but he did not have faith in him. He became interested in scientology and horoscopes yet despite all the honours and awards he still felt hollow inside. Then one day while walking in Shelbyville two men stopped him and invited him into church, he thanked them but told them he was too busy but politely took their card. Still frustrated that he could not stop swearing and the Australia trip that had not helped, he suddenly felt the need to drive across town to go to that church.
He found the service interesting with lots of music. The Reverend Mc Duff preached a sermon after which he asked anyone who wanted to ask Jesus Christ into their life to put their hand up. This is what Colonel Sanders had been waiting for all his life. He said the sinners prayer and felt a great burden lift from him as he asked God to help him with his "Cussin" and using Gods name in vain. He walked out of church a different man. He had peace in the knowledge and hope of heaven that Jesus had borne the punishment for his sin. Colonel Sanders was pleased that he had provided jobs, made others rich, produced a menu enjoyed by millions, given money to charity and inspired people in retirement but nothing satisfied his soul more than giving his life to Jesus. Harland 'Colonel' Sanders died on December 16th 1980