If you look at a picture of Colonel Sanders today, you’re probably seeing a logo. It’s that crisp, red-and-white graphic on a bucket of chicken. But for a huge chunk of the internet, that logo isn’t just a face anymore. Thanks to a viral realization that ruined childhoods everywhere, people now see a tiny "stick man" body hanging right under his chin.
Honestly, once you see the black string tie as a set of tiny arms and legs, the "real" image is gone forever. It’s a classic case of pareidolia. Your brain is basically wired to find patterns, and it decided the Colonel is actually a bobblehead with a miniature tuxedo body.
But behind the meme-worthy logo is a real guy with a wilder history than most people realize. Harland Sanders wasn’t just a corporate mascot dreamed up in a boardroom. He was a real, often hot-headed man who didn't even start his empire until he was in his 60s.
The Viral "Stick Man" Mystery
In late 2020, a guy named Freddie Campion tweeted that his wife thought the Colonel’s bowtie was actually his entire body. The tweet exploded. Suddenly, 400,000 people were staring at the picture of Colonel Sanders and losing their minds.
If you look at the 1997 or 2006 versions of the logo, the "string tie" really does look like a tiny stick figure with its arms and legs spread out. It looks like a little man is doing a jumping jack right under Harland's chin.
KFC actually leaned into this a bit later. They’ve updated the logo several times, sometimes adding an apron or more defined shoulders to help "fix" the illusion. But the classic "head and bowtie" look is so iconic that the stick man persists.
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The Evolution of the Face
The very first picture of Colonel Sanders used for the brand back in 1952 was a lot more realistic. It wasn't a cartoon. It was a black-and-white drawing based on an actual photograph of Harland. The firm Lippincott & Margulies designed it. They wanted him to look like a "distinguished Southern gentleman."
- 1952 Original: Just the head, very detailed, looking like a friendly grandfather.
- 1978 Update: The face got a "facelift." The lines were smoother, and the hairstyle was neater. This is where the bowtie started looking a bit more abstract.
- 1991 Rebrand: This is when they officially switched the name to "KFC." They put the Colonel's head inside a red-and-white striped bucket.
- 1997-2006: The era of the red apron. They added color to his face and gave him a red apron, partly to move away from the "all-white suit" vibe which felt a bit dated.
More Than Just a Mascot
Most people think the "Colonel" title was from the military. It kinda wasn't. While Harland Sanders did serve in the Army (he faked his birth certificate to get in at 16), his title of "Colonel" was an honorary one.
Governor Ruby Laffoon of Kentucky gave him the title in 1935. It’s a thing in Kentucky—a "Kentucky Colonel" is the highest honor the state can give. He took the title seriously, though. He started dressing the part, growing out his goatee and bleaching it white to match his hair.
He even wore the white suit in public every single day for the last 20 years of his life. He actually had winter suits (wool) and summer suits (linen) to make sure he always looked like the picture of Colonel Sanders people expected to see.
The Man Behind the Bowtie
Harland wasn't always the "sweet grandpa" the logo suggests. He was known for being incredibly perfectionist and having a bit of a temper.
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"I used to be the worst man you ever heard of for cussing," Sanders once said. He was famous for visiting KFC franchises and, if the gravy wasn't up to his standards, he’d literally throw it on the floor or call it "slop."
He even got into a literal shootout with a business rival named Matt Stewart. They were fighting over a painted sign on a barn. Stewart shot a Shell Oil manager who was with Sanders, and Sanders shot Stewart in the shoulder. Stewart went to prison; Sanders was cleared. You don’t see that in the cartoons.
The Norman Rockwell Portrait
One of the most famous versions of a picture of Colonel Sanders isn't a logo at all. It’s a painting. In 1973, the legendary American illustrator Norman Rockwell painted the Colonel.
It’s a classic Rockwell piece—warm, detailed, and very human. It shows Sanders holding a piece of chicken, looking exactly like the folk hero he’d become. This painting helped solidify the image of the Colonel as a symbol of "Old South" hospitality, even as the company was becoming a massive, global corporation.
Why the Image Still Works
Even though the real Harland Sanders died in 1980 at the age of 90, his face is still everywhere. Why? Because it’s one of the few fast-food logos that is a real person.
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Ronald McDonald is a clown. The Wendy’s girl is a stylized version of Dave Thomas’s daughter. But the picture of Colonel Sanders is a guy who actually lived, struggled, and failed at a dozen jobs before hitting it big.
- He delivered babies.
- He practiced law (and got into a fight in a courtroom).
- He ran a ferry boat.
- He sold insurance.
He was 65 years old and living off a $105 Social Security check when he started traveling the country with a pressure cooker and a bag of spices. That's the real power of the image. It’s the face of a guy who didn't give up.
What to Look For Next
If you’re out and see a KFC sign, take a second to really look at the picture of Colonel Sanders. See if you can spot the "stick man" bowtie or if you see the "distinguished gentleman."
If you want to see the real deal, there are still a few "vintage" KFC locations that use the 1970s-era signs. There’s also the Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, Kentucky. It’s the actual site where he perfected the recipe. You can see his original kitchen and some of the earliest photos that were used to create the brand we know today.
When looking at historical photos of the Colonel, pay attention to the glasses. His heavy, black-rimmed frames became just as much a part of his "face" as the goatee. In modern, minimalist logos, the glasses are often the only thing left besides the hair and the tie.
To truly understand the branding, compare the 1952 logo with the 2014 "flat" design. You'll notice how the industry moved from "trust this man" to "recognize this icon." It's a masterclass in how a human face becomes a global shorthand for a specific flavor.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Visit the KFC Museum in Corbin, Kentucky to see the original pressure cookers and the "birthplace" of the brand.
- Look up the Norman Rockwell portrait to see the most "human" version of Sanders ever captured.
- Check out the "Colonel Sanders" actors list; since 2015, KFC has used various celebrities (like Norm Macdonald and Reba McEntire) to play the Colonel, each mimicking the specific look of the 1970s-era photos.