At Bojangles’ recent franchise convention, the company announced that 2012 will be the inaugural year for the Jack Fulk Scholarship Foundation, created in memory of Bojangles’ co-founder Jack Fulk. The foundation has been set up to provide $10,000 in annual academic scholarships to Bojangles’ team members and their families.
“We wanted to do something special to honor one of our co-founders Jack Fulk, and we feel that a scholarship program will help keep his legacy alive,” says Bojangles’ President and CEO Randy Kibler. “It’s fitting that Bojangles’ has chosen to honor his memory by offering scholarship opportunities to these Bojangles’ team members as they work to continue their education.”
Born in North Carolina in 1932, Fulk was a talented athlete and actually turned down college scholarships so he could get straight to work to support his family. After just a few years working for another quick-service restaurant, Fulk decided to take the recipes he had been perfecting for years and go into business for himself.
In 1977 Fulk opened the first Bojangles’ restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his business partner Richard Thomas. Fulk’s hardworking nature and his drive to constantly improve the restaurant’s product and service resulted in an iconic brand that has more than 500 locations in the Southeast and this month begins its 35th year in business.
Jack Fulk’s legacy remains alive through his family members. Fulk’s daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Tommy Haddock, are one of the largest franchise entities in the Bojangles’ system, operating more than 45 locations in the Raleigh-Durham area. His grandson Justin Haddock owns and operates franchise restaurants in North Alabama; he aptly named his restaurant group New Generation Foods LLC.
