“Gone, but Not Forgotten”: My Tribute to a Champion Al Copeland, Sr.

By LaDon Vinnett-Thompson

This book pays tribute to my father, Alvin Charles Copeland, Sr. My father was a great man with a great heart for people. He loved life and winning in life. He was successful because he prioritized people and family over materialistic things. He was a winner that lived for a challenge. As the eldest son, I am proud and humbled to have the opportunity to continue his legacy and fulfill the tasks he left behind. I am honored to endorse this book as a motivational tool for anyone who may be facing a challenge, setback, or obstacle in this life. My father never gave up on life in spite of disappointments; he was relentless about making the best of any situation. During his battle with cancer, my father never gave up. He was a born leader, motivating father, and a man of influence. As you read the pages of this book, I know you will be encouraged to live your life to the fullest. I know that something in my fathers life will help motivate you to face every circumstance, or setback with a winning attitude. Today I challenge you to take on the attitude of a champion. Champions are determined risk-takers that are often the center of attraction. Champions never die; they just live out their lives through others once they pass away. Thank you for helping me pay tribute to a true champion, Al Copeland, Sr.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514469316

LaDon Vinnett-Thompson

LaDon Vinnett-Thompson is a native of Louisiana. She is an author, motivational speaker, and youth mentor. She has 2 beautiful children, Isaiah and Nevaeh. LaDon is the founder and facilitator of the non-profit organization called, “W.A.M. Self-Empowerment, Inc.” W.A.M. stands for What About ME? It is a mentoring organization for young ladies. LaDon enjoys traveling, writing, jazz music, and cooking. One of her favorite mottos for life is: “Keep moving and don’t look back.”

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Copyright © 2016 by LaDon Vinnett-Thompson.

Library of Congress Control Number:        2016902967

ISBN:        Hardcover        978-1-5144-6932-3

        Softcover        978-1-5144-6930-9

        eBook        978-1-5144-6931-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 08/19/2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Foreword

Chapter 1 – The Art of Giving

Chapter 2 – Merry Christmas!

Chapter 3 – All in the Family

Chapter 4 – The Art of Winning

Chapter 5 – The Art of Appreciating People

Chapter 6 – The Legacy of a – Self-Made Entrepreneur

Chapter 7 – Like Father like Son

Chapter 8 – The Spirit of the Leader lives on

Chapter 9 – The Meaning of Life

Chapter 10 – Heroes

Welcome to the Winner’s Circle

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Popeyes! It is my pleasure to serve you. Would you like Spicy or mild chicken? This is usually the question asked when an individual orders fried chicken, especially from Popeye’s. Mild is usually characterized as a bland version of seasoning that is marinated on the chicken before cooking. Spicy actually speaks for itself. It consists of a consistent blend of herbs, spices, and seasonings that is fit for the palate of a native Louisianan.

In life we have choices and decisions that have to be made that are not always as easy as chicken choices. Life is filled with mild and spicy issues and episodes that flood our world and compel us to change our attitude and rethink our priorities.

Alvin Charles Copeland, founder of Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken and biscuits led a mild and spicy lifestyle. He lived an extraordinary life and made the best of every minute of it. Up until his death, his world was filled with challenges that many others would have clearly walked away from. Relentless to win at every opportunity that was presented, Al never gave up. In this book I am paying tribute to a man that inspired me in a tremendous way. Al Copeland, Sr. was a trailblazer of innovation and entrepreneurship. These qualities and many others helped to make a difference in many people’s lives. I am honored to have met him, worked for him and to have known him. This is my tribute to a champion!

The address of the building was 1333 South Clearview Parkway in Jefferson, Louisiana. My job interview was at 1:00pm on the fifth floor on a beautiful Friday afternoon. I arrived at 12:30 and anxiously waited for the elevator to take me to my destination. The fifth floor was the home office for Al Copeland Enterprise, founder of Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken and Biscuits. I was elated and excited about my opportunity to be considered as an employee of such an elite environment. This opportunity was no coincidence. I was only a junior in High School and I had received admission into the C.O.E. (Cooperative Occupational Educational) program in my sophomore year at Riverdale High School. What an honor to have been chosen to go to school for three classes and leave at 1:00pm and go to work. I had trained extensively and sacrificed much time and effort into the COE program over the previous summer. All COE students were required to meet high standards of excellence in the administrative and business sectors prior to being accepted into the program. Now I was ready to take on any challenge that came my way. I was humbled and thrilled at the same time. I was actually flabbergasted! I did not have a car yet so I had to carpool with two other classmates. My classmates, Huey and