His chicken is "finger lickin' good," and his image is one of the most recognized in the world. With his white suit, black string tie, white goatee, and black cane, Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Harland Sanders was the epitome of a dignified Kentucky Colonel. In fact, he portrayed one so well that the governor of Kentucky named him an honorary Kentucky Colonel in 1935. After that, the Colonel's image helped make his restaurants number one in the pecking order of fast food chains.

This colonel could really cook! He began by selling fried chicken to tourists in a small cafe behind his gas station. A highway construction project later forced him to close his cafe, but his chicken was so popular that other restaurateurs clamored for the recipe. Col. Sanders franchised his image and his name and his unique pressure-cooker technique, but he kept his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices secret -- he carried it with him in a jar. Even today, only a select few know the recipe, and they are sworn to secrecy.

The Colonel sold his franchise to Heublin Inc. in 1971, and they later sold to Pepsico, but he remained an active promoter of his flock of restaurants until his death in 1980 at the age of 90.