A Way Of Life- Eat Mor Chikn'

Monday, September 8th, 2014- I am saddened to learn of Mr. Cathy's passing. He was a good man and his first book, "Eat Mor Chikin- And Inspire More People" is a must read for anyone entertaining the idea of starting their own business and serves as a reminder to those of the 20th Century that paved the way and the challenges they faced.

Around the birth of my daughter, I was moved to write what Chick-Fil-A meant to me. To read this article, please read below or visit http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Story/Detail/5074.

It's a fact that I've been going to Chick-fil-A since the late 1970s when I would go with my dad to Furman football games in my hometown, Greenville, SC in the back of a station wagon. As I got older, in the 80s, I went to Chick-fil-A at Haywood Mall with my teammates wearing my football jersey for the pre-game meal on Friday nights. Going to the mall was a big deal and going there with your teammates all wearing the same jersey was like being the big man on campus. In the 90s, I moved away from the South and served two tours in the Persian Gulf in the US Navy. Afterwards, I stayed in CA and pursued my bachelor's degree. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, would go with me on dates to one of the only Chick-fil-A restaurants in CA.

As I was completing my undergraduate degree, in the early '00s, my dad gave me Mr. Cathy's first book, "Eat Mor Chikn': Inspire More People". I fell in love with the book as it gave me an inside look to how my grandfather was raised as Mr. Cathy and my grandfather come from the same hometown in GA and grew up during the depression. I was moved to hear how Mr. Cathy would treat his employees, how he would donate money to his causes. I was able to get an inside look to how my parents were as younger adults raising my sister and I in the 1970s and 1980s when the US Dollar went off of the gold standard, there were lines to buy gas, and the interest rate to buy property was 25%. Mr. Cathy was expanding his business at that time and had to go all of 1982 with no salary due to the hard times that people faced at that time. In the '10s, I finally met my full potential as a director of a school for international students. I would try to lift everyone's spirits by treating my teachers to Chick-fil-A Biscuits from time to time.

It is more than Chicken Sandwiches, Waffle Fries and sweet tea. Chick-fil-A is a way of life in more ways than I can imagine, especially for people from the South.

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day? I appreciate Chick-fil-A and its values every day.

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