Longtime Chick-fil-a PR chief dies

Loss of first spokesman for company comes as it faces controversy.

Don Perry, Chick-fil-A’s longtime public relations head who helped lead the business from a small regional chain to the nation’s second-largest fast-food chicken restaurant, died suddenly on Friday morning, the Atlanta-based company said.

The company, which has been embroiled in a controversy over gay marriage for the past two weeks, said in a statement that Perry was “a wellrespected and well-liked media executive in the Atlanta and University of Georgia communities and we will all miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

No official cause of death was given but Columbus television station WRBL reported Perry suffered a fatal heart attack.

The last two weeks have been a public relations test for the company, which has been the center of a firestorm over remarks made by company president Dan Cathy. Earlier this month Cathy told an online publication that he supports “the biblical definition of the family unit,” which many, especially those in the gay community, regard as opposing gay marriage.

That has led to both disapproval and praise for Cathy’s stance. Supporters have planned an “Appreciation Day” for Aug. 1 while opponents plan a “Kiss-in” two days later.

Perry joined the chain in 1983 as its first spokesman, when much of his responsibili- ties at that time included drumming up publicity for restaurant grand-openings and getting Chick-fil-A founder and CEO Truett Cathy and the brand name in the paper. He also helped Cathy write six books and was in the process of aiding other members of Chick-fil-A’s executive committee on three other books.

Scott Williamson, a spokesman for Coca-Cola, said he met Perry through UGA’s Grady College of Journalism, their alma mater.

“In so many ways, he was a pioneer in the field of public affairs and he shared his wealth of experience unselfishly with others,” Williamson said. “I cannot think of anyone more generous with their time in service to others than Don. He was one of most kind, giving and genuine people I’ve ever known.”