President Reagan vs. Colonel Sanders; #ColonelBridge Picks Up Steam
LatestWhat to name the new bridge connecting Kentucky and Indiana? Yum Brands, parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, has an idea.
The company is waging a social media campaign in support of naming the new Interstate 65 bridge “The Colonel Harlan Sanders Memorial Bridge,” in honor of the man who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken.
According to Louisville Courier-Journal, support for #ColonelBridge is gaining momentum.
KFC’s official Twitter account posted this image in early February:
After all, Yum Brands points out, what could be more appropriate than naming a bridge after the man who actually bridged Kentucky and Indiana with his Secret Recipe of 11 Herbs & Spices?
The Colonel may have some stiff competition from President Ronald Reagan, who is also a contender in the battle for bridge-naming honor. The Kentucky legislature recently proposed a very straightforward resolution to designate the new bridge as the “Ronald W. Reagan Memorial bridge and erect appropriate signs.”
Supporters of #ColonelBridge say that it’s time for us to start paying proper respect to our cultural figures.
But detractors question whether The Colonel should be placed in such company as President John F. Kennedy, after whom the adjacent bridge is named.
Others just wonder whether bridge designers can incorporate KFC vibes into the new bridge project.
While Yum Brands continues to drum(stick?!) up support for #ColonelBridge, they’ll need to submit a written petition to the transportation cabinet and hold a public hearing. Fusion will be watching this story and will continue to provide updates.
Alexandra DiPalma is a producer for Fusion Lightworks, Fusion’s In-house Branded Content Agency.