Trailblazer at the Family Table: The Life of Mildred Sanders Ruggles

Basic Information

Early Life and Education

Born on August 15, 1919, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Mildred Marie Sanders grew up as the youngest of three children in a family that would soon become synonymous with American entrepreneurship. Her father, Harland David “Colonel” Sanders, was decades away from global recognition when Mildred was a child. Life in those early years revolved around work, perseverance, and the kind of close-knit family bonds forged by shared struggle.

Mildred attended Saint Camillus Academy in Corbin, Kentucky—the same town where her father honed his famous fried chicken recipe. Those school days immersed her in community life and hospitality, values that would later color her work in service, church, and business. She learned early that success is rarely a solo enterprise; it is a family choreography, and Mildred moved in step with grace.

Marriage, Work, and Entrepreneurship

On her eighteenth birthday—August 15, 1937—Mildred married John F. Ruggles Jr., beginning a 73-year partnership anchored in family, church, and enterprise. John founded Ruggles Sign Company, and Mildred stood at his side helping it grow—the kind of grounded, practical support that every enduring business needs. She brought an organizer’s precision and a promoter’s courage to the endeavor, extending the Ruggles name across Kentucky’s business landscape.

Her marriage and working life were interwoven with the expanding world of signage and branding. She remained engaged with the World Sign Association, contributing to a profession that literally and figuratively helps businesses stand out. Mildred’s role, whether leading a meeting or greeting guests, reflected a consistent thread: elevate others, honor commitments, and build institutions that last.

At the Colonel’s Side: Training and Promotion

When Kentucky Fried Chicken began its steady rise in the 1940s and 1950s, Mildred stepped into a high-energy role that suited her calm confidence. She traveled with her father, Colonel Sanders, across the United States and abroad—attending conventions, appearing at promotional events, and most importantly, teaching franchisees how to “cook the Colonel’s way.”

Training is a form of guardianship. Mildred stewarded the brand’s essence, translating her father’s exacting standards into reproducible, heartfelt hospitality. She helped franchisees perfect the details—the technique, timing, and taste—knowing that every plate served would either strengthen the brand or diminish it. In a world fascinated by mascots and slogans, she upheld the quiet discipline that keeps a promise intact.

Service and Civic Life

After World War II, Mildred served as a Grey Lady at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. The work demanded tenderness and steadiness—qualities she carried throughout her life. Her civic portfolio widened over the decades:

• Girl Scouts leader, encouraging service and skill among new generations of young women.
• Member of Beta Sigma Phi, building lifelong friendships and community connections.
• Daughter of the American Revolution and Daughter of the Nile, where tradition met public service.
• Member of the Bob-O-Link Homemakers, championing community craft and care.
• Board member of the Mountain Laurel Festival, sustaining one of Kentucky’s most treasured cultural events.
• Active participant at Central Christian Church, where her service found spiritual footing.

For Mildred, community wasn’t a sidebar—it was the main event. She treated volunteer work as a craft and a calling.

Family

Mildred’s family life was a large, multigenerational tapestry—rooted in Kentucky and branching far beyond.

Immediate Family

Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren

This roster tells its own story: a family rooted in service, creativity, and the kind of everyday leadership that sustains communities.

Timeline

Character and Influence

Mildred embodied a distinctly American blend of hospitality and grit. She was the person at the table who made sure everyone else had what they needed—then quietly took the last seat. Her work with franchisees established quality; her civic commitments built bridges; her support for family businesses fortified economic lives. If Colonel Sanders provided the recipe, Mildred helped write the manual that made it universal.

Her life also reminds us that brands are sustained by unseen hands. From the franchise kitchen to a hospital ward to a festival boardroom, she modeled steadiness. She knew that the soul of an enterprise—be it a family, a business, or a church—resides in the willingness to serve with care, to repeat excellence without fanfare, and to teach others to do the same.

FAQ

Was Mildred Sanders Ruggles directly involved in building KFC?

Yes. She traveled with her father, attended conventions, and trained franchisees to maintain the Colonel’s exacting standards.

Where did she go to school?

She attended Saint Camillus Academy in Corbin, Kentucky.

Whom did she marry, and when?

She married John F. Ruggles Jr. on August 15, 1937—her eighteenth birthday.

Did she have children?

Yes. She had two children: Marlona Ruggles Ice and John F. Ruggles III.

What civic organizations did she support?

Her service included the Girl Scouts, Beta Sigma Phi, DAR, Daughter of the Nile, Bob-O-Link Homemakers, and the Mountain Laurel Festival board.

What was her volunteer work after World War II?

She served as a Grey Lady at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

How is she connected to the sign industry?

She supported Ruggles Sign Company, founded by her husband, and engaged with the World Sign Association.

When and where did she pass away?

She died on September 21, 2010, in Lexington, Kentucky, at age 91.