Brady Keys facts for kids
| Date of birth: | May 19, 1936 |
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| Place of birth: | Austin, Texas |
| Date of death: | October 24, 2017 (aged 81) |
| Place of death: | Manhattan, New York |
Quick facts for kids
Career information
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| Position(s): | Cornerback |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| College: | Colorado State |
| NFL Draft: | 1960 / Round: 14 / Pick: 162 |
| Drafted by: | Pittsburgh Steelers |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| Pro Bowls: | 1 |
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Brady Keys (born May 19, 1936 – died October 24, 2017) was an American football player from Austin, Texas. He played as a defensive back in the NFL for eight seasons. Before that, he played college football at Colorado State. At college, he was a halfback and a defensive back. In 1960, Keys led the Colorado State team in rushing yards.
Brady Keys was also a very important businessman. He became America's first black owner of a national fast food franchise.
Contents
Brady Keys' Amazing Career
Starting a Business: All Pro Fried Chicken
Brady Keys wanted to start his own business. Many banks would not lend him money. But Dan Rooney, who managed the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, helped him. Rooney loaned Keys the money he needed.
With this money, Keys started a company called All Pro Fried Chicken. His first restaurant opened in January 1967. At its best, All Pro Fried Chicken had 150 restaurants. Keys ran it as a family business. This made him America's first black person to own a large franchise business.
Joining Burger King
In 1969, Keys wanted to try new things in business. He met with James McLamore, who helped start Burger King. Keys decided to take over a Burger King restaurant in Detroit that was not doing well.
He used new ideas to make the restaurant successful. Some people even say he helped create Burger King's famous saying, "Have it your way". By 1988, he owned 13 Burger King restaurants in Detroit.
Working with KFC
In 1970, Keys made a deal with Kentucky Fried Chicken. He took ownership of half of six KFC stores in Detroit. To do this, he had to sell all of his All Pro Fried Chicken restaurants. Most of these were sold to the people who were already running them. By 1972, he owned all six of these KFC restaurants by himself.
Later, in 1982, there was a lot more competition for fast food. Keys' KFC stores faced problems. To help them, KFC offered him a deal. He could trade his six Detroit restaurants for four KFC restaurants anywhere else in the country. Keys agreed and chose four restaurants in Albany. By 2002, when he left the business, he owned 11 KFC restaurants.
Later Life and Passing
Brady Keys passed away on October 24, 2017. He had problems after a stroke. He was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Brady Keys' Lasting Legacy
Throughout his business life, Brady Keys always supported businesses owned by black people. He helped start the Minority Franchise Associations for both Burger King and KFC. He was also the first black person to be on the board of the International Franchise Association.
In 1971, he convinced Burger King to hire a black-owned company to build its first restaurant in a city neighborhood. In 1972, President Nixon asked him to join his Minority Business Advisory Board. In 1973, Keys spoke to Congress about his work in franchising and how it could help minorities.
In 1986, he helped Burger King agree to give $750,000 to the black community. This was the largest amount any fast-food company had promised at that time. Brady Keys truly opened doors for many others.
