Alvin Charles Copeland (February 2, 1944 – March 23, 2008)[1] was an American entrepreneur who founded the Popeyes fast food chain.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Copeland had a humble beginning with his family living at one point in the St. Thomas public housing project.
While Copeland never completed high school, he used his wealth to benefit education programs, including establishing the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at Louisiana State University, providing funding for the Delgado Community College chef apprentice program, and supporting the National Food Service Institute.
[6][7] Copeland became a New Orleans icon due to his flamboyant lifestyle, including his eponymous power boat racing teams, extravagant weddings, and his annual Christmas light show at his mansion located in an upscale neighborhood in Metairie.
He was one more guy who put his life on display for all to see, another example of talking too much, living too large and laughing too loud – those New Orleans attributes that sometimes make folks elsewhere a little leery of this place.
"[8] In 1972, Al Copeland founded the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish.
Efforts were made to close under-performing stores and sell franchises; however, operational improvements could not overcome financial burdens resulting from the merger.
[10] In October 1992, the bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by a group of Copeland's creditors that created America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (aka AFC).
[1] He manufactured the spices through his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants located in Metairie, Madisonville, New Orleans, Mobile, San Antonio, and Nebraska City.
[12] In the display's heyday, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office provided traffic control, and cars would back-up into surrounding subdivisions.
New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, on informing his children of Copeland's death stated, "I realized it was like telling a kid that Santa Claus was dead.
[16] Rice placed a full page ad in the February 7 New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, calling the restaurant "hideous", "a monstrosity", and "nothing short of an abomination".
The third divorce's original presiding judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty to promising a custody deal favorable to Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits.
[18] In December 2007, Copeland began treatment for a malignant tumor of the salivary glands,[20] caused by Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer.