sentimental punch

By MICHELLE WILSON

Published Sept. 16, 1999

The dedication of the Trojan Express food court Wednesday at Troy State University was truly a festive occasion.

TSU students, city of Troy officials, restaurant managers and media outlets from Dothan to Montgomery joined Troy State administrators in attendance at the ribbon cutting.

It was the last dedication TSU will have this millennium, said Troy State University System Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr.

The partnership between Troy State University and Chick-fil-A began several years ago when company founder Truett Cathy spoke at a commencement ceremony. At that time, Cathy planted the seed to bring Chick-fil-A to Troy, Hawkins said. Now his suggestion has come to fruition.

Besides Chick-fil-A, the Trojan Express features three other restaurants – Sub Connection, Marketplace and Freshens. There are even computer terminals where students can log on to the internet while they eat the food court’s offerings.

I am so glad Chick-fil-A has finally come to Troy, and I want to tell you why.

During my childhood in Atlanta – Chick-fil-A’s birthplace – we ate the chain’s chicken sandwiches on special occasions. At that time, the restaurant was located in area malls, so shopping trips for Christ-mas, birthdays and back-to-school included a stop at Chick-fil-A. Those visits are among my favorites.

When I was a teen-ager, my mother worked at an accounting firm in Hapeville across from original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House. My favorite pastime when I visited her office was walking through the red dwarf-sized front door there to get a "Hot and Brown" chicken casserole.

When I went away to college, I learned about the philanthropic side of Chick-fil-A. My alma mater, Berry College in Rome, Ga., is home to a dormitory complex specifically for students who earned scholarships by working at Chick-fil-A.

If students work hard at the restaurant while in high school, they have the opportunity to earn $1,000 scholarships to attend college. During Wednesday’s dedication, Hawkins said 14 TSU students are on the Chick-fil-A scholarships.

Besides giving to the community by helping deserving students attend college, Cathy promotes family values by closing all his Chick-fil-A locations on Sunday so his employees can attend church and have a day of rest.

In addition to warm memories and feelings I have associated with Chick-fil-A is the restaurant chain’s amazing advertising campaign. I wish I would have been the one to think of using a cow with a sign that reads "Eat more chickin" to advertise Chick-fil-A. That is a brilliant campaign.

Then there’s the wonderful taste of those sandwiches, waffle fries and fresh-squeezed lemonade. I mention these last, but certainly not least. I think Chick-fil-A has the best chicken sandwiches I have ever tried.

I cannot wait to enjoy Chick-fil-A at Troy State.

Michelle Wilson is a staff writer for The Messenger.