JUST FOUND OUT THAT AL COPELAND DIED OF CANCER. HE WAS IN A CLINIC OUTSIDE OF MUNICH GERMANY, RECEIVING TREATMENT. ACCORDING TO LOCAL NEWS CHANNELS, HE WAS 64 YEARS OLD.
sammyj
He founded Popeye's Fried Chicken - was famous in the south for lavish living.
Hot chicks, sports cars, powerboats - in essence a ******* Malcolm Forbes.
Since I AM a ******* from the south - I don't mean any disrespect by that comment.
-TC
Hot chicks, sports cars, powerboats - in essence a ******* Malcolm Forbes.
Since I AM a ******* from the south - I don't mean any disrespect by that comment.
-TC
Al Copeland, who became rich selling spicy fried chicken and notorious for his flamboyant lifestyle, died Sunday at a clinic near Munich, Germany. He was 64.
The founder of the Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken chain had been diagnosed shortly before Thanksgiving with a malignant salivary gland tumor. His death was announced by his spokeswoman, Kit Wohl.
After growing up in New Orleans, Copeland sold his car at age 18 for enough money to open his own one-man doughnut shop. He went on to spend 10 modestly successful years in the doughnut business.
The opening of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in New Orleans in 1966, however, caught Copeland's eye. Inspired by KFC's success, Copeland in 1971 used his doughnut profits to open a restaurant, Chicken on the Run. ("So fast you get your chicken before you get your change.")
After six months, Chicken on the Run was still losing money. In a last-ditch effort, Copeland chose a spicier Louisiana Cajun-style recipe and reopened the restaurant under the name Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken, after Popeye Doyle, Gene Hackman's character in the film "The French Connection." The chain that grew from the one restaurant became Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.
In its third week of operation, Copeland's revived chicken restaurant broke the profit barrier.
Franchising began in 1976, growing the chain to more than 800 stores in the United States and several foreign countries by 1989.
In 1983, he founded Copeland's of New Orleans, a causal-dining, Cajun-style restaurant. In the next two decades the chain expanded as far as Maryland and west into Texas. He also started Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, Fire and Ice restaurants, and Al's Diversified Food & Seasonings — a line of specialty foods and spices for large national restaurant chains.
In March 1989, Popeyes — then the third-largest chicken chain — purchased Church's Chicken, the second largest behind KFC. The two chains, operated separately, gave Copeland more than 2,000 locations.
The Church's purchase was heavily financed, however, and escalating debt forced Copeland's company to file for bankruptcy in 1991. Although Copeland lost both Church's and Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained the rights to some Popeyes products, which he manufactured through his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants, along with a few Popeyes stores.
Copeland frequently made headlines away from his business empire.
His hobbies included racing 50-foot powerboats, touring New Orleans in Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis, and outfitting his Lake Pontchartrain home with lavish Christmas decorations, including half a million lights and a three-story-tall snowman. The display drew a lawsuit in 1983 from neighbors who said the resulting traffic held them hostage in their own homes.
Copeland and his third wife, Luan Hunter, were married at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Valentine's Day 1991. As they left the ceremony rose petals were tossed from a helicopter and fireworks exploded over the building.
The original presiding judge at their divorce, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty to promising a custody deal favorable to Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits. Two Copeland associates and Bodenheimer went to federal prison for participating in the conspiracy.
Copeland was never personally accused of participating in the scheme.
Copeland's survivors include five sons, four daughters, a brother and 13 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
The founder of the Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken chain had been diagnosed shortly before Thanksgiving with a malignant salivary gland tumor. His death was announced by his spokeswoman, Kit Wohl.
After growing up in New Orleans, Copeland sold his car at age 18 for enough money to open his own one-man doughnut shop. He went on to spend 10 modestly successful years in the doughnut business.
The opening of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in New Orleans in 1966, however, caught Copeland's eye. Inspired by KFC's success, Copeland in 1971 used his doughnut profits to open a restaurant, Chicken on the Run. ("So fast you get your chicken before you get your change.")
After six months, Chicken on the Run was still losing money. In a last-ditch effort, Copeland chose a spicier Louisiana Cajun-style recipe and reopened the restaurant under the name Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken, after Popeye Doyle, Gene Hackman's character in the film "The French Connection." The chain that grew from the one restaurant became Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.
In its third week of operation, Copeland's revived chicken restaurant broke the profit barrier.
Franchising began in 1976, growing the chain to more than 800 stores in the United States and several foreign countries by 1989.
In 1983, he founded Copeland's of New Orleans, a causal-dining, Cajun-style restaurant. In the next two decades the chain expanded as far as Maryland and west into Texas. He also started Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, Fire and Ice restaurants, and Al's Diversified Food & Seasonings — a line of specialty foods and spices for large national restaurant chains.
In March 1989, Popeyes — then the third-largest chicken chain — purchased Church's Chicken, the second largest behind KFC. The two chains, operated separately, gave Copeland more than 2,000 locations.
The Church's purchase was heavily financed, however, and escalating debt forced Copeland's company to file for bankruptcy in 1991. Although Copeland lost both Church's and Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained the rights to some Popeyes products, which he manufactured through his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants, along with a few Popeyes stores.
Copeland frequently made headlines away from his business empire.
His hobbies included racing 50-foot powerboats, touring New Orleans in Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis, and outfitting his Lake Pontchartrain home with lavish Christmas decorations, including half a million lights and a three-story-tall snowman. The display drew a lawsuit in 1983 from neighbors who said the resulting traffic held them hostage in their own homes.
Copeland and his third wife, Luan Hunter, were married at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Valentine's Day 1991. As they left the ceremony rose petals were tossed from a helicopter and fireworks exploded over the building.
The original presiding judge at their divorce, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty to promising a custody deal favorable to Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits. Two Copeland associates and Bodenheimer went to federal prison for participating in the conspiracy.
Copeland was never personally accused of participating in the scheme.
Copeland's survivors include five sons, four daughters, a brother and 13 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
al was pretty cool and fun to be with a real personality i would compair him to george clooney ...al had to give up boat racing when he broke his back on a snowmobile i,m not sure but i think he was in ny. my best memory that still makes me laugh is in key west al always had an big group we were in a pizza shop i think his wife and a bunch of crew but no al after i got pizza i walked thru a door next door in the ally and there was al on the bar of a strip club being covered in whipped creme i have laughed every time i think of that moment priceless
al was pretty cool and fun to be with a real personality i would compair him to george clooney ...al had to give up boat racing when he broke his back on a snowmobile i,m not sure but i think he was in ny. my best memory that still makes me laugh is in key west al always had an big group we were in a pizza shop i think his wife and a bunch of crew but no al after i got pizza i walked thru a door next door in the ally and there was al on the bar of a strip club being covered in whipped creme i have laughed every time i think of that moment priceless
This is so very upsetting to hear this morning
WE will miss you my friend.
God Speed Al...Godspeed.
Julie & Matt
WE will miss you my friend.
God Speed Al...Godspeed.
Julie & Matt
I never held a conversation with him but being from the New Orleans area I can remember going to the offshore races in Lake Pontchartrain in the early 80’s and seeing Al race the Popeye’s boat. In the 90’s I lived not far from him and remember the long lines of cars to see his Christmas lights and all his Toys on display. I went to a few Poker runs that he was on in the past few years. Lots of stories about his life were topic of conversation but you got to give it to him, He had a good time while he was here. The sobering thing is that no matter who you are or what you have when it’s your time, that’s it. His legend lives on. Keep up his Dreams Al Jr.
R.I.P. AL
R.I.P. AL
Al passed on Easter Sunday, he's being laid to rest today, surround by his toys and his race boats. His yacht, "Cajun Princess" had too much draft to be able to enter Destin Harbor, so he would have a crew of divers meet the boat in East Pass, remove the props and the boat would be towed into the harbor, all was repeated when the "Cajun Princess" departed. Heaven now has the choice of "spicy" or "mild".
From NOLA.com
Al Copeland, the flamboyant fried-chicken magnate who spent much of his adult life thumbing his nose at tradition, will be buried today after a traditional Roman Catholic Mass.
Copeland, who became known for extravagant Christmas displays, speedboats, sports cars, spectacular weddings and messy divorces, will be buried in the family mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery after a 2 p.m. Mass in Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.
The celebrant will be Monsignor Christopher Nalty, a native New Orleanian who works in the Vatican as a member of the Roman Curia, the tiny bureaucracy that helps Pope Benedict XVI govern the Catholic church.
Copeland died in Munich, Germany, on Easter of complications of treatment for cancer of the salivary glands.
By twilight on Sunday, four white open-sided tents had been set up around Copeland's columned mausoleum, which was encircled by his cars, motorcycles and a speedboat in preparation for his burial.
Two monster trucks were parked near the cemetery gate, and his racing boat, with tongues of flame on each side, was behind the mausoleum. About 10 racing cars and sports cars were in a semicircle nearby, with several motorcycles between most of the cars.
Each vehicle was adorned with a black ribbon.
Copeland's body was returned Thursday by private jet.
Organizers said all Copeland-owned casual dining restaurants in the area would be closed until 4 p.m. today so employees could attend the services.
From NOLA.com
Al Copeland, the flamboyant fried-chicken magnate who spent much of his adult life thumbing his nose at tradition, will be buried today after a traditional Roman Catholic Mass.
Copeland, who became known for extravagant Christmas displays, speedboats, sports cars, spectacular weddings and messy divorces, will be buried in the family mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery after a 2 p.m. Mass in Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.
The celebrant will be Monsignor Christopher Nalty, a native New Orleanian who works in the Vatican as a member of the Roman Curia, the tiny bureaucracy that helps Pope Benedict XVI govern the Catholic church.
Copeland died in Munich, Germany, on Easter of complications of treatment for cancer of the salivary glands.
By twilight on Sunday, four white open-sided tents had been set up around Copeland's columned mausoleum, which was encircled by his cars, motorcycles and a speedboat in preparation for his burial.
Two monster trucks were parked near the cemetery gate, and his racing boat, with tongues of flame on each side, was behind the mausoleum. About 10 racing cars and sports cars were in a semicircle nearby, with several motorcycles between most of the cars.
Each vehicle was adorned with a black ribbon.
Copeland's body was returned Thursday by private jet.
Organizers said all Copeland-owned casual dining restaurants in the area would be closed until 4 p.m. today so employees could attend the services.
heres a good video on Al not much about racing but he was the life of the party.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLG1YrIegy8&NR=1
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