Skip to content

Skagway man sure loved his KFC bird

Skagway man sure loved his KFC bird One of the Whitehorse newspapers recently ran a story about the upcoming rebirth of a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in June. That wonderful place was a draw for many Skagwegians for many years and they're now all e

One of the Whitehorse newspapers recently ran a story about the upcoming rebirth of a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in June. That wonderful place was a draw for many Skagwegians for many years and they’re now all excited about the reopening.

A famous engineer on the White Pass railroad and author of a couple of books on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway, the late J.D. True, loved the KFC in Whitehorse. He made many trips up there after his retirement.

In fact, the numerous ravens along the Klondike Highway, for the entire 113-mile (181-kilometre) stretch between Skagway and Whitehorse, soon learned to recognize J.D.‘s trusty Scout vehicle. They knew that upon his return there would be a large bucket of KFC right beside him in the “shotgun” seat and J.D. would be chucking chicken bones out the driver’s side window each time he finished a piece.

I imagine the ravens miss him as much as some of us do since he passed away in a nursing home in Palmer, Alaska, a few years back.

You’ve no doubt heard of the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” J.D. True was the “Birdman of Skagway” because he sure loved his bird.

Anyway, many good folks here in Skagway are looking forward to June so they can get their KFC “fix.” I’ve also heard that Second Avenue, down around the former KFC establishment, is reportedly already slick with anticipatory saliva. Oh my.

Boyd Worley

Skagway, Alaska