Chick-fil-A founder honored at College of the Ozarks

Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy was the featured speaker and honoree Oct. 18 at the S. Truett Cathy Poverty Summit, an annual event started in 2007 via donation from Cathy.

During the poverty summit, held at the College of the Ozarks, the school presented Cathy with the Great American Award, which recognizes exceptional character and dedication to the country, according to a school news release.

"He is a great example of a servant leader and a role model for me," College of the Ozarks President Jerry Davis said of Cathy. "He is truly a great American.”

During his speech, Cathy talked about his meager beginnings, according to the release.

"I was 8 when I got started in the restaurant business,” he said.  “I would buy 24 Cokes for 80 cents and then sell them for 5 cents each.

"At the end of the day, I made 40 cents profit.  To me, that was big business."

Now, there are about 1,500 Chick-fil-A restaurants in 38 states and Washington, D.C., according to its Web site.

The S. Truett Cathy Poverty Summer is put on by the college's Keeter Center for Character Education to address poverty issues in the Ozarks.[[In-content Ad]]