Despite not even starting his career as a chicken man until well into his late life, Colonel Harland Sanders became one of the most recognizable mascots in the entire world and his grave honors the man with a bust sculpted by his very own daughter.
Located in Kentucky's Cave Hill Cemetery, Colonel Sanders' grave may be the only real life burial site of a multi-national mascot. After working as a streetcar conductor, fireman, insurance salesman, and filling station operator Sanders was nearly destitute and living off a government pension when he finally decided to try and become a restauranteur at 62. After devising the concept of franchise restaurants, Sanders opened a small restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah that would serve his "secret recipe" fried chicken that he had developed during his time serving it to travelers who passed through his filling stations. With his signature black glasses, slick white goatee, and long bow tie, the elderly entrepreneur soon became the actual face of his new business as he traveled the country selling his recipe to eateries like a door-to-door salesman.
His franchise plan exploded thanks to his aggressive sales strategy and grandfatherly charm, within years his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants were in every state across the country, and Sanders was a household name. By the time of his death at the age of 90, KFC was one of the most famous brands in the world with over 6,000 franchises in 48 countries.
After passing away from Leukemia, the Colonel was buried in Kentucky as one of its favorite sons. His grave was marked by a bust that was created by his own daughter. He was dressed in his iconic white suit and string bow tie, looking like his marketing representation even in death.
