Truett Cathy died this morning...

http://www.ajc.com/news/business/chick-fil-a-founder-truett-cathy-is-gravely-ill/nhHqC/

My grandmother's second husband was really good friends with Mr Cathy. He died a decade or so ago, but what a character. If Truett was half as fun as Homer, I would have been honored to count him as a friend.

Also, Homer's fried chicken was better. ;-)

i could go on about how there is one less homophobe in the world and whatnot, blah blah blah.

but damn i love his chicken nuggets and bbq sauce, and it's hard to find anywhere with real cherry coke in the fountain.

ignoring politics and religion.. they do make a tasty chicken.. and I still love the billboards with the cows

If I cared about people's religion and politics, I'd have very few options for dining out, watching movies, etc.

Having said that, I've tried Chick-fil-a a couple of times (we don't have them here as of yet). Breakfast biscuit thing was really good, the spicy chicken sandwich was just "meh". Kinda pricey, too.

patgizz wrote: ...it's hard to find anywhere with real cherry coke in the fountain.

Are you talking about the fountain version of this?:

or something else? Finding the above is not THAT hard from what I have seen (at least in my area).

BUT, what I have found is much better then the above is an independent place near me that does a mix cherry coke by mixing coke and cherry soda. Quite good.

I friend mine tells me when he was young they would make cherry coke by squeezing actual cherries (in some sort of press) into a Coke. I would like to try that at some point.

patgizz wrote: i could go on about how there is one less homophobe in the world and whatnot, blah blah blah. but damn i love his chicken nuggets and bbq sauce, and it's hard to find anywhere with real cherry coke in the fountain.

Hey, I strongly disagree with the guy's politics but that doesn't define someone.. he was 93 so some allowances have to be in order, in my opinion.

As secular as I am, I do admire any large company that still gives up profits to allow its employees a weekly day of rest. It's a shame that very few companies do that while still being progressive in other areas.

patgizz wrote: i could go on about how there is one less homophobe in the world and whatnot, blah blah blah.

I found it mildly hilarious that I've seen the headline about Mr. Cathy's passing placed next to news about Neil Patrick Harris's same-sex wedding in a couple of "trending items" lists today.

Duke wrote:

patgizz wrote: i could go on about how there is one less homophobe in the world and whatnot, blah blah blah.

I found it mildly hilarious that I've seen the headline about Mr. Cathy's passing placed next to news about Neil Patrick Harris's same-sex wedding in a couple of "trending items" lists today.

That is awesome.

I didn't agree with him on that particular issue, but he seems to have been a man who stuck to his principles - for better or for worse.

In 2008, Mr. Cathy hosted the opening premiere of the movie "Fireproof" at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The movie is about marriage and redemption, and Mr. Cathy chose to host the premiere in celebration of his 60th anniversary with his wife Jeanette.

He invited 4000 people, including the cast and crew of the movie. Big posh gala event.

I was the Special Effects Coordinator for the movie, and got an invite.

My wife and I (dressed in tux and fancy evening gown) were a tad late arriving, and missed the ushers seating people. We walked down the aisle looking for vacant seats, not knowing any better about the protocol.

It was packed, but we finally found 2 seats on the front row.

What we didn't realize was this was the reserved section for the Cathy family, and I was now seated next to Mr. Cathy. When the time came for fancy introductions, a spotlight swept to the seat next to me, and I realized where I was sitting.

I'd never been to a red carpet event before, and this one could have ended very badly. I guess Mr. Cathy would have been completely justified in throwing me out on my keister.

Instead, he treated me like family. We talked, and laughed, and he was genuinely interested in me, and my involvement in the movie. I felt like royalty, and really appreciated the guy.

I think it is reasonably cool that a guy who is capable of throwing a $250K anniversary party is also willing to be seated next to a guy like me, and treat me like I am one of his family.

I tip my hat. Truett Cathy was a class act.

Chik-fil-A was invited to have a presence at DisneyWorld.

The deal was, however, that they had to be open on Sundays.

Cathy refused. And there are still no CfA's at Disney.

I don't know many business people who are THAT prepared to stand on their beliefs.

In reply to SVreX:

There aren't many, I'm thankful to work for a much smaller company with the same ideals.

Datsun1500 wrote: The man ran his business based on his beliefs, and did not change those beliefs for more profit. Even if you do not agree with them, you need to admire someone that will stand up for what he believes is right even if it means getting some heat for it.

Agreed. It's a shame you're labeled a bigot for standing up for what you believe is right these days.

It IS possible to be a bigot and still be standing up for what you believe in. And that's where I'll bow out of this thread.

Duke wrote: It IS possible to be a bigot and still be standing up for what you believe in. And that's where I'll bow out of this thread.

I agree with you.

The man died. Can't you guys let go of your ideologies just long enough to say something nice or not say anything at all?

I think he was a great man. His restaurants show it. I should have said that in my original post.

We throw the word bigot around too much these days. I'd never call him a bigot whether I agree with him or not. He had beliefs just as you and I do, and he stuck by them. Hats off to the man for putting his employees and beliefs above making more money.

ScreaminE wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote: The man ran his business based on his beliefs, and did not change those beliefs for more profit. Even if you do not agree with them, you need to admire someone that will stand up for what he believes is right even if it means getting some heat for it.

Agreed. It's a shame you're labeled a bigot for standing up for what you believe is right these days.

It is possible to stand up for what you believe is right without being a bigot...just depends on what you believe is right.

I think he made smart and benevolent decisions to keep his company private and stay closed on Sundays.

bravenrace wrote: The man died. Can't you guys let go of your ideologies just long enough to say something nice or not say anything at all?

I get what you're saying and I don't disagree with the general sentiment. However, when someone makes their public life and business a grandstand for their own personal ideologies it's really hard to separate those from any discussion you might have about them. With the exception of SVRex, this wasn't a community that had a chance to know him personally. There's not much else that many of us actually know about the guy.

Besides, his death doesn't change his life.

SVreX wrote: In 2008, Mr. Cathy hosted the opening premiere of the movie "Fireproof" at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The movie is about marriage and redemption,

And has an infamous scene where a guy does an Office Space beatdown on his computer because he wants to stop looking at porn

(Dunno how good or bad the movie is otherwise...but that's a scene that will always color your expectations)

Matt B wrote:

bravenrace wrote: The man died. Can't you guys let go of your ideologies just long enough to say something nice or not say anything at all?

I get what you're saying and I don't disagree with the general sentiment. However, when someone makes their public life and business a grandstand for their own personal ideologies it's really hard to separate those from any discussion you might have about them. With the exception of SVRex, this wasn't a community that had a chance to know him personally. There's not much else that many of us actually know about the guy. Besides, his death doesn't change his life.

He ran his business and life according to his beliefs, just like you or I hopefully do. Just because we don't agree with someone doesn't mean we have to say bad things about them when they die. I certainly hope people don't condemn me after I die for living my life the best way I know how, ESPECIALLY people that don't know me.

If you choose to have your expectations colored before you have even seen the movie, then you are right, your expectations will be colored.

Isn't that sort of the essence of bigotry?

In reply to bravenrace: Maybe you're seeing something different in this thread than I am. Considering the controversial way he operated in the last few years it's been pretty tame. Most of the posts have been about exactly what you're pointing out - the way he lived according to his principles. Are we only allowed to discuss certain principles that show him in a universally-liked way?

My point is, he put his money, his company, and public persona behind a social/political issue that's been pretty divisive. That was his choice. His memory is forever tied to that issue. Again, for better or for worse.