." [6][10] During a 1963 political breakfast, Brown met Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and the two discussed selling Sanders' chicken in Brown's chain of barbecue restaurants. And he had a lot of ideas and a lot of contacts. Phyllis George Wiki, Age, Husband, Daughter, Cause of Death, Net Worth In 1979, however, recently wed to Phyllis George, a pioneering sportscaster and former Miss America, Mr. Brown plunged into a six-week television campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and defeated several candidates by a plurality of just under 30 percent. John Sr. was a trial lawyer who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives in the mid-1930s and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for several decades. Brown, Jr. has died at the age of 88. [66], Brown and his wife Phyllis separated in August 1995. Although George was considered a pretty face in the male-only business, she held her own each telecast bantering back and forth with Musburger and Cross during the popular pre-game show. John Y. [67][68] Later that year, he married former Mrs. Kentucky Jill Louise Roach, 27 years his junior, but they divorced in 2003 for reasons not released. Copyright 2022 WKYT. John Y. He first made his mark in the restaurant franchise industry by recognizing the appeal of fast fried chicken during the 1960s and made "the colonel . Phyllis George had 2 children from her marriage to former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown jr. was held at the state capital. Gov. U.S. Federal News Service. During his tenure, the state's unemployment rate climbed from 5.6 percent to 11.7 percent. [2] The investment group changed the restaurant's format from the diner-style restaurant envisioned by Sanders to a fast-food take out model. [8] Brown eventually sold his interest in the team to co-owner Harry Mangurian in 1979. },false) Brown Jr., who built the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire and was elected governor of Kentucky in 1979. [65] Brown then took Roasters public and grew it to a chain of more than 1,000 restaurants before selling his interest in the franchise to the Malaysia-based Berjaya Group in 1996. ga('ads.send', { [53], In Kentucky's Governors, Brown biographer Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau said of his administration: "There were no scandals. nineteenth century governor of the same name, "Ollie is Now a General in the P.R. On Wednesday, a private service for John Y. While he was lying in state, John Y Brown jr was in a Kentucky-flag-draped casket, but it was switched to an American flag as the state police honor guard carried him to the hearse because of his time served in the military. He became the governor of Kentucky in his first political race. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Copyright 2022 WKYT. He supposedly told a friend at the time, 'I think I'll out with her. It grew to 350 outlets, but competition from Kentucky Fried Chicken, by then known as KFC, and the Boston Chicken chain (later known as Boston Market) drove it into bankruptcy in 1998. [18] The founding of Kenny Rogers Roasters was part of a larger movement in the restaurant industry toward healthier, take-home offerings. In a statement, her two children praised George for her strength and spirit. [1] He was the only son of five children born to John Y. and Dorothy Inman Brown. John Y. "My law background gave me the background and understanding to allow me to become governor of the Commonwealth of the Kentucky," he said. Brown Jr., an entrepreneur who built Kentucky Fried Chicken into a powerhouse brand, co-owned . [47], Brown appointed a group of insurance experts to study the state's policies and put them out for bid, ultimately saving $2million. [2][19] A few years later, Brown launched John Y's Chicken, a venture which also subsequently failed. John Y. Brown Jr. Second Wife: Who was Phyllis George? The Wives and Children of John Brown - National Park Service After taking off about 10 years to raise the couple's two young children,George would return to television and cable work, hosting interviews, shopping shows and promoting crafts. John Y. Brown Jr., former Kentucky governor and KFC owner, dies at 88 As you know, he came in and did a lot of things differently, said former governor Martha Layne Collins. Between himself and his wife, Phyllis George, they really did a tremendous job, I think, of selling Kentucky to the outside world.. Brown Jr. circa 1981 George was married twice. Entrepreneurial by instinct, in high school Mr. Brown had made up to $1,000 a month in commissions in a summer job peddling vacuum cleaners, and as much as $25,000 a year selling the Encyclopaedia Britannica during law school. }); By then, his luster as a potential national candidate had faded. [67] After a brief legal fight over whether the proceedings should take place in Kentucky or Florida, the divorce became final in 1998. Name variations: Ellie Brown. He briefly competed for the U.S. Senate after his gubernatorial term in the 1984 election but withdrew from the race after only six weeks, citing health issues. In the 1960 election, he was named vice-chairman of John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in Kentucky. But McBrayer said he drew the line at donating to George's effort to renovate the Governor's Mansion. He won the election after plunging into a six-week television campaign. We are one of the worlds fastest growing [29] Despite this declaration, he purchased half-ownership in the NBA's Buffalo Braves later in 1976. Terry McBrayer, a Democrat who had lost to John, also spoke of Phyllis saying, "She won it for him, there's no doubt about that. A trait lost in many today. John Young Brown (February 1, 1900 - June 16, 1985) was an American attorney and politician. He was born on December 28, 1933 and his birthplace is Lexington Kentucky. "Former Ky. governor files for third divorce". Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Some 30 years after his retirement from professional football, Hall-of-F, Joseph Emerson Brown As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Governor John Y. [60] As Brown quickly became the frontrunner, Beshear attacked his lavish lifestyle in a series of campaign ads, one of which was based on the popular television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Brown Jr. [38] He founded the Governor's Economic Development Commission of Kentucky and served as chair from 1975 to 1977. [47] He cut the executive office staff from ninety-seven to thirty and sold seven of the state's eight government airplanes. [56] James P. Lambert, an associate of Brown's since they attended the University of Kentucky together, was indicted on more than 60 drug charges. [28], After folding the Colonels, Brown stated that basketball was not the kind of business he wanted to be involved in. [13] The Louisville Junior Chamber of Commerce honored him as Louisville's Outstanding Young Man in 1969, and he was inducted into the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Hall of Distinguished Alumni on November 6, 1970.[13]. As the story goes, Mr Brown had been wanting to meet Miss George ever since the night his divorce from his first wife, Ellie, who ran his unsuccessful Kentucky Colonels basketball team, became final, and he caught a glimpse of Miss George on television. [31] In 1977, Brown purchased the remaining share of the team from the owner Paul Snyder. [70] The "AA" designation comes from the fact that the highway originally connected the cities of Alexandria and Ashland. [12] Giving all their restaurants a distinct red-and-white striped color pattern, the group opened over 1,500 restaurants, including locations in all 50 U.S. states and several international locations. John Y. When asked why they divorced he stated "I do have great love for Jill, but something which cannot be overlooked has come up in our marriage. [64] In December 1992, Clucker's, a smaller player in the roasted chicken market, sued Kenny Rogers Roasters, claiming the chain had copied its recipes and menus. Former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown dies at 88 | CNN Politics Because he was an adjustment. [3][4] A 1979 People magazine article recounts that the elder Brown's nine unsuccessful political races for either governor or the U.S. Senate took a toll on his family and left his mother resentful of all the money spent on campaigns. Dictionaries thesauruses pictures and press releases, Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. Governor John Y Brown, Jr. and a group of investors purchased Kentucky Fried Chicken from its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, for $2 million in 1964. Did Joe Buck Lie to Get His NFL Broadcasting Job? Brown, Jr. was 45 and Phyllis George was 29 years old. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Attained Stardom at CBS In July 1986, Reynolds announced the sale of KFC to PepsiCo for $850 million (around US$2.0 billion in 2020). Brown, Jr. passed away last week. 0:57. One dead after tree falls onto car in Lexington, Chris Baileys Forecast | Potential for tornadoes to spin up across the area, Lexington asking residents to report property damage. ", "John Y. [33] The relationship between Brown and Auerbach worsened with Brown's decision to trade three first-round draft picks that Auerbach had planned to use to rebuild the franchise for Bob McAdoo. Brown, who built Kentucky Fried Chicken into a worldwide fast-food power then pledged to run the state as a business, has died at age 88. While Brown served as governor from 1979 to 1983, his business ventures, sports ownerships and marriage to former Miss America Phyllis George are what he might be remembered for most. "Phyllis was a fighter and her children have shown her incredible love during this struggle. Brown Jr., not only dreamed the impossible dream, he lived it until the very end. Colonel Sanders sold the business in 1964 for $2 million and continued to collect a salary for his work as the face of the brand. Before there was ever an Erin Andrews, Samantha Ponder, Michele Tafoya, Linda Cohn, or Hannah Storm, there was the original Phyllis George. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe. Brown Jr., a onetime owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken who parlayed his fast-food fortune into a dramatic rise in Kentucky politics, winning one term as governor shortly after. [20][76] His casket lay in state in the Kentucky Capitol's rotunda for two days starting on November 29, 2022. RELATED: Tony Romo to Interview Three Up-And-Coming NFL Quarterbacks in Special Airing May 24. "Moore, Ellie Durall (1940) [32] Two weeks before the swap of franchises was made official, details of a six-player trade between the two were reported. ." A Washington Post story headlined "Phyllis George and the Kentucky Fried Candidate"described the pairas "a campaign manager's dream of media heaven," with George, as theadoring wife,warming up crowdsfollowed by Brown with his sales pitch to be governor. He lost perennial races for governor and the U.S. Senate losses that haunted his son and which John Jr. later blamed on machine politicians whose support his father had spurned. John Y. Golden, "Brown Yearns for Old Kentucky Home". [50] Brown re-appointed McAnulty to his former position as a judge with the Jefferson County District Court and replaced him with another African-American, George W. Former Kentucky governor and businessman John Y. Brown dies
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