Al Copeland

Alvin Charles "Al" Copeland (February 2, 1944 – March 23, 2008) was an American entrepreneur who created the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Copeland had a humble beginning with his family living at one point in the St. Thomas public housing project. Copeland's father left the family shortly after Alvin ("Al"), the youngest of three sons, was born. Copeland did not complete high school, having left at 16, and worked at Schwegmann's Super Market in Gentilly as a soda jerk and then for Tastee Donut, a doughnut chain partially owned by his brother, Gil. At 18, Copeland sold his car to purchase one doughnut location from his brother. This experience exposed him to the restaurant business and franchising.

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.

He had nine children – five sons and four daughters – by four wives. His eldest son, Al Copeland Jr., became the CEO of Al Copeland Investments, of which he is also the chairman, in 2003.

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. Copeland was both admired and disliked by many in New Orleans for his brash style. Upon Copeland's death, New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, who was often critical of Copeland, noted, "I'm a big fan of over-the-top. A big fan of celebration. A big fan of lust for life. A big fan of Big Fun. Copeland epitomized these things. 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."

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