Pete Harman, the man who opened one of the very first Kentucky Fried Chickens has died.

KFC is known for its delicious fried chicken and is one of the largest restaurant chains in the world.

Colonel Sanders with Pete Harman, the first KFC franchisee. #thisisKY (@huffingtonpost) pic.twitter.com/X671xVWa

— KFC (@kfc) October 11, 2012

Harman was born in Salt Lake City in 1919. He was raised by his aunt in a farming community where he learned the value of hard work.

How about this for #ThrowbackThursday? Pete Harman & Colonel Sanders at #SLCAirport – June 4, 1954…. http://t.co/niRNcXoXyw

— SaltLakeCityAirport (@slcairport) May 15, 2014

In 1941, Harman and his wife, Arline, purchased and operated a small, outdated restaurant in Salt Lake City.

Sending out condolences to friends & loved ones of Pete Harman. Thanks for your vision & legacy. I have great family memories of @kfc so thx

— Marie N. (@plaidspolitics) November 20, 2014

Their modest restaurant took an upward turn in the early 1950s when a chance meeting with Colonel Harland Sanders led them to become the Colonel’s first business partners and first franchisees of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

As their restaurant system expanded through the 1950s and 1960s, the Harmans relocated back to Los Altos, California where they established their company headquarters, according to his wife’s 2013 obituary on  legacy.com.

Dad worked for Pete Harman as a teenager at what became the very first KFC franchise. Sign is still… http://t.co/jSHh82ZvCI

— Ducks and Clucks (@ducksandclucks) November 16, 2013

Sad news about Pete Harman. Was a great guy. Never met him but I know many who did. Enjoyed the stories I heard about him.

— December 15 (@A24Brett) November 20, 2014