Interview with John Y. Brown, Jr., February 28, 2013

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview with former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown, Junior for the University of Kentucky's Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History.

Segment Synopsis: John Y. Brown, Jr. is introduced. He talks about his business philosophy and discusses the differences between entrepreneurs and corporate businesspeople.

Keywords: Attitudes; Business philosophy; Businessperson; Corporations; Fathers; Innovation; John Y. Brown, Sr.; Leadership; Management; Motivation; Qualities

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.

Partial Transcript: In high school you earned seventeen letters in various sports.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about how playing sports in high school influenced his life. He talks about becoming involved with sales while in high school, first of vacuum cleaners and later encyclopedias.

Keywords: Attitudes; Door-to-door sales; Encyclopedia Britannica; Encyclopædia Britannica; Experience; Fathers; Firing; High school; Jobs; John Y. Brown, Sr.; Law school; Management; Motivation; Qualities; Sales; Salesman; Sports; Vacuums; Working

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Uh, at Britannica you were making $25,000 a year when you graduated from law school.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about his salary as a salesman, and why he chose to practice law instead of remaining in business.

Keywords: Attitudes; Encyclopedia Britannica; Encyclopædia Britannica; Fathers; John Y. Brown, Sr.; Lawyers; Practicing law; Qualities; Salaries; Sales

Subjects: Brown, John Young, 1900-1985; Law--Study and teaching; Lawyers--Kentucky; Practice of law--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And I, I didn't realize until later that if I want to make money I've got to find another source to develop as a career.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about how he came to know Colonel Sanders and why he chose to buy Sanders' company, Kentucky Fried Chicken. He talks about the business deal with Sanders, and talks about the KFC franchises.

Keywords: Business partners; Buying; Colonel Harland Sanders; Fathers; Franchise family; Franchisees; Happy Chandler; Jack Massey; John Y. Brown, Sr.; Pension funds; Reputations; Success

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Fast food restaurants; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Sanders, Harland, 1890-1980

Partial Transcript: Jack Massey would have been 58 and you were 29. He was twice your age. Did you have a generation gap between you?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about his relationship with his business partner, Jack Massey. He talks about the advice Massey gave him. He talks more about the KFC franchises.

Keywords: Advice; Business partners; Franchise fees; Franchisees; Jack Massey; Management team; Relationships; Restaurants; Stock market

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Fast food restaurants; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Mentoring in business.

Partial Transcript: Why or whose idea was it to keep the likeness of Colonel Sanders as a marketing tool?

Segment Synopsis: Brown discusses several of the marketing decisions that were made regarding KFC, including using Colonel Sanders' likeness to promote the product, choosing the colors red and white, and their decision to open restaurants internationally.

Keywords: Branding; Colonel Harland Sanders; Colors; International sales; Mitsubishi Corporation; Success; Television

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Marketing.; Sanders, Harland, 1890-1980; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Were you surprised by the quick success of KFC?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about his decision to sell KFC. He talks about why KFC headquarters was moved to Nashville, Tennessee and how he eventually moved it back to Kentucky. He talks about social change surrounding the advent of fast food restaurants.

Keywords: Business partners; Corporate culture; Fast food; Headquarters; Jack Massey; Lexington (Ky.); Lifestyles; Louisville (Ky.); Management team; Nashville (Tenn.); Social changes; Workforce

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Fast food restaurants; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Selling.; Women--Employment.

Partial Transcript: Uh, what goes, uh, goes into selecting franchisees?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks more about franchises and explains how franchising works. He talks about KFC's business model and the changes that occurred over the years, including the increasing popularity of drive-thrus. He discusses some of KFC's competitors, the transition to a corporate mentality within the company, and the growth of the company.

Keywords: Business models; Colonel Harland Sanders; Colonel Sanders; Competitors; Corporate mentality; Corporations; Customer service; Drive-throughs; Drive-thrus; Expansion; Franchisees; Franchises; Franchising; Growth; Lee's Famous Recipe; Licensing; Management team; Restaurants; Sales; Success

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Fast food restaurants; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Marketing.; Sanders, Harland, 1890-1980; Selling.

Partial Transcript: And I think being a lawyer was--and I think my--University of Kentucky cause that kept me out of trouble.

Segment Synopsis: Brown discusses how his education as a lawyer prepared him for the business world. He talks about the importance of hard work and ethics in business.

Keywords: Business deals; Business principles; Claudia Sanders Dinner House; Colonel Harland Sanders; Colonel Sanders; Employees; Ethics; Family; Food business; Growth; Hard work; Lawsuits; Restaurant industry; Sales; Salesperson; Settlements

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Law--Study and teaching; Lawyers--Kentucky; Practice of law--Kentucky; Restaurants.; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Well let's talk about some of your other ventures.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about how and why he became involved with Lum's Restaurants.

Keywords: Airplanes; Buying; Florida; Lum's Restaurants

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Restaurants.

Partial Transcript: This is tape seven of the interview with Governor John Y. Brown on--this is February 28, 2013.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks more about the KFC franchises and some of the ideas pitched by franchisees, including the bucket to serve the chicken. He talks more about how the corporate mentality changed the company.

Keywords: Acquisitions; Buckets; Corporate structure; Drive-thru; Entrepreneurial spirit; Franchisees; Management team; Peter Harman; Stock market

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Fast food restaurants; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Marketing.

Partial Transcript: Uh, let's, uh, change and go back and talk about Ollie's Trolley. How did that concept come about?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about some of his other business ventures, including one of the first drive-thru restaurants Ollie's Trolly, Chicken by George which was sold in supermarkets, and a restaurant chain in Florida called Miami Subs.

Keywords: Business deals; Chicken By George; Contracts; Drive-throughs; Florida; Grocery stores; Hamburgers; Miami Grill; Ollie Gleichenhaus; Ollie's Trolley

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Marketing.; Restaurants.; Selling.

Partial Transcript: What about Kentu--uh, Ken, Kenny Rogers Roasters?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about becoming involved in the business Kenny Rogers Roasters. He talks about the structure of the company, how Kenny Rogers became involved, and why he eventually chose to sell his share of the company.

Keywords: Boston Market; Branding; Corporate model; Kenny Rogers; Personality; Sold out; Stock market

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Marketing.; Restaurants.; Rogers, Kenny; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Roadhouse Grill?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about how he became involved with several steakhouse restaurants including Logan's Roadhouse, Texas Roadhouse, and Roadhouse Grill.

Keywords: Business deals; Ken Taylor; Logan's Roadhouse; Roadhouse Grill; Texas Roadhouse; The Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Marketing.; Restaurants.; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Salad Creations?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about some of his other business ventures, including several salad restaurants like Salad Creations and ZAZA’s Fine Salad and Wood Fired Pizza. He talks about Suzanne's Kitchen which sold prepared food and also offered cooking lessons.

Keywords: Branding; Concepts; Cooking; Family meals; Franchisees; Fun; Kentucky Fried Chicken (Firm); Roadhouse Grill; Salad Creations; Suzanne's Kitchen; Women; ZAZA’s Fine Salad and Wood Fired Pizza

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.; Marketing.; Restaurants.; Selling.

Partial Transcript: Which, which restaurant ideas didn't work out as well as you had expected? And why do you think they failed?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about some of his ventures that would be considered failures, and talks about what success in business means.

Keywords: Businesses; Concepts; Entrepreneurism; Failures; Market; Money; Profits; Success

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Entrepreneurship.

Partial Transcript: During your gubernatorial campaign some of the people who worked for you said that you could be stubborn and didn't listen to other people's ideas and equated agreeing with you with loyalty.

Segment Synopsis: Brown discusses accusations that he could be stubborn, and discusses loyalty in government and business.

Keywords: Agreeing; Attitudes; Complaints; Creativity; Education; Employees; Governorship; Loyalty; Management; Prison industry; Restaurant industry

Subjects: Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Governors--Kentucky; Kentucky--Politics and government; Kentucky. Governor (1979-1983 : Brown); Politicians--Kentucky; State governments--Officials and employees

Partial Transcript: Outside the, uh, restaurant industry you've owned three basketball teams: the Kentucky Colonels, the Buffalo Braves, and Bo--Boston Celtics.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about why he bought several basketball teams, why he sold them, and what the teams meant to their communities. He talks about his wife's management of the Kentucky Colonels. He talks about the business deal with the NBA.

Keywords: Buffalo Braves; Business deals; Coach John Calipari; Eleanor Durall Brown; Louisville (Ky.); Management; National Basketball Association (NBA); Owners; Red Auerbach; Role models; Selling out; Sons; TV revenues; Trades; Wife

Subjects: Boston Celtics (Basketball team); Business enterprises.; Businesspeople.; Kentucky Colonels (Basketball team); Los Angeles Clippers (Basketball team); Selling.; Sports.

Partial Transcript: I'd like to discuss the Democratic Party telethons that you, that you ran.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about managing the Democratic Party telethons, the producers and celebrities involved, and the success of the fundraisers.

Keywords: Celebrities; Challenges; Entertainers; Entertainment; Fundraising; Management; Producers; Publicity; Ruth Berle

Subjects: Democratic Party (U.S.); Fund raisers (Persons); Fund raising.; Telephone fund raising

Partial Transcript: Uh, switching, uh, a little bit here.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about sponsoring his cousin's play, which he later learned was based on his family. He talks about how he came to own several racehorses and why he later sold them.

Keywords: "Appearances to the Contrary"; "Excitable Lady"; Buying; Debutante Stakes; Dysfunctional families; Funding; Jim Inman; Phyllis George Brown; Producers; Racehorses; Selling; Wife

Subjects: Horse racing; Horse trading; Performing arts.; Plays.; Race horses; Theater.

Partial Transcript: This is tape eight, interview with Governor John Y. Brown, Junior in his home in Lexington, Kentucky on February 28th, 2013.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about the Pamela Brown Theater in Louisville, Kentucky, named for his sister who died in a hot air balloon accident.

Keywords: Accidents; Acting; Barry Bingham; Daughters; Death; Hot air balloons; Pamela Brown Theater (Louisville, Ky.); Sisters

Subjects: Benefactors.; Charity organization.; Performing arts.; Philanthropists.; Theater.

Partial Transcript: Tell us about the, uh, evolution of the idea and the funding of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about his father's desire to fund research on aging and senior citizens which led to the creation of the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. He talks about the other people he convinced to fund this endeavor, and the success of the institution.

Keywords: Fathers; Government; Governors; John Y. Brown, Sr.; Otis A. Singletary; Senior citizens; Wendell Ford

Subjects: Benefactors.; Brown, John Young, 1900-1985; Educational benefactors; Endowment of research; Ford, Wendell H., 1924-; Geriatrics.; Gerontology.; Older people.; Philanthropists.; Sanders-Brown Research Center on Aging; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, what about the Muhammad Ali Center?

Segment Synopsis: Brown talks about his relationship with Muhammad Ali, and tells several personal anecdotes about him. He talks about his work with Ali's wife Lonnie to create the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. He talks about what advice he would give to young people. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Advice; Ambition; Business; Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.; Friendship; John J. Hooker; Larry Townsend; Lonnie Ali; Louisville (Ky.); Pierce Lyons; Role models; World hero; World icon; Yolanda Williams Ali; Young people

Subjects: Ali, Muhammad, 1942-; Benefactors.; Charity organization.; Philanthropists.