At the bottom of today’s main news page, you can see several articles on the passing of Carl Karcher. Most of America knows Carl for his famous and widespread fastfood restaurant chain, Carl’s Jr. Many who have been involved with Republican and conservative causes over the last half-century know Carl as a committed champion of important American traditions — God, family and free enterprise.
I first met Carl in 1988 at a dinner for the Christian Anti-Communist Crusude (and no, I wasn’t the only Jewish kid there). I remember Carl handing me and every other activist with Young Americans for Freedom his signature "Free Famous Star" cards that he had with him everywhere. I don’t know about the others, but I ended up keeping the card as a keepsake, rather than trading it away for the burger.
Over the years, as I got more involved in politics, I became State Chairman of California YAF, and some years after that, served a term as Chairman of the California Republican Assembly. During my time running both of these fine organizations, Carl (with whom I developed a friendship) was very generous. Yes, with financial resources. But more importantly, he took a very real interest in what I was doing, and in giving me practical, hands on advice. I distinctly remember sitting down with Carl in 1995 and reviewing with him our newly minted CRA Legislative Scorecard (I still wonder at all of the hard work that John Stoos put into that project that year). Carl had a lot of ideas about how to use it, improve upon it, and such. Some of which we put into use!
Anyways, from talking to many people over the years, my personal experience with Carl was not unique. Carl was possessed with a need to "give back" all of the time — so humble was he to understand that so many others helped him to get to where he was in life.
So while Carl won’t be with us in person anymore, I will always fondly remember him. Yeah, when I eat at Carl’s, Jr. And yeah, when I look at the next CRA scorecard. But Carl’s biggest passion in life was his love of his family, and everyone else’s! So when I spend time with my son, that is when I will remember Carl’s bigger-than-life smile, and laugh.
We’ll miss you, buddy!
January 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Through the 60’s and 70’s as Orange County was ascending to become a Republican statwide influence, there were giants who moved the mountains. Activists like Walter Knott, Si Fluor, Lois Lundberg, Bob Beaver, Charlotte Mousel, Gus Owen, Pres. Nixon, Congressman Wiggins – and Carl Karcher.
Carl and his peers laid the groundwork for what Republicans have today. He was a great man, and he was a good man.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I met Mr. Karcher several years ago when I worked as Director of Donor Relations for the Leadership Institute in Virginia. As I approached his office I was impressed with the larger than life statue of St. Francis on the stair landing. Mr. Karcher was charming and said a visit to thank him was certainly not necessary. He believed in the Institute and felt the role it is playing in training young conservatives in our country was vital. I noted the pictures of his family all around the room and also the special ones with the Pope. He humbly said, “I don’t know why but each year my family is invited to a private Mass with the Pope, so we go to Rome!”
I told his secretary as I left that I felt the presence of God in his office and she said many people do.
God bless you my friend.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Having become a Republican late in life, I was never aware of Carl Karcher’s excellent conservative activism. A few days ago The Associated Press celebrated his death (meaning not figuratively) with a piece that ran nationally. The one redeeming quality that the AP story offered was vindication of a suspicion that I had held for sometime. That Carl’s Jr. had, at some point, lost its family-oriented flavor to be replaced with a slovenly desire to appeal to an over-sexed male population. Indeed, when Carl lost the reigns of the company in the late 1990’s the descent into moral depravity began.
God Bless this man who is surely now with God. So sad that I have come to know him only since his passing.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Carl Karcher was man of strong faith and belief in conservative governance. I had the privilege to work with the Orange County Republican Party when Mr. Karcher and the other giants mentioned by Barry Nestande were elected members of the local county party. These true business owners and leaders met in a converted warehouse in Santa Ana every month to advance the cause of Republicanism. Mr. Karcher and his friends’ activism helped to bring about the Reagan Revolution and the rise of conservative governance in our state and nation.
Jon’s mention of the “Free Famous Star” coupons brought a smile to my face. I received a stack of them from Mr. Karcher and don’t have any left as they were all used to pay for dinner when I served as a “not for pay” campaign staffer for Bruce Nestande’s (yes Barry’s dad) successful race for State Assembly in 1974.
God blessed each of us with Carl Karcher’s passion for his faith and his nation. He will be missed.