| John Schnatter | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 23, 1961 Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA |
| Occupation | Businessman, entrepreneur, spokesman |
John H. Schnatter (born November 23, 1961[1]), better known as "Papa John", is the founder, chairman, and current CEO[1] of Papa John's International, Inc. He founded the company in October 1984.[2] He is also spokesman for Papa John's.
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Schnatter has made several donations to help boost the Louisville area. His business has the naming rights to Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium used by the University of Louisville's football team. On August 28, 2007, he made a $10 million pledge toward a stadium expansion.
Schnatter made a million-dollar contribution to the Louisville Zoo's Glacier Run expansion.[3] In addition to his major contributions his Calistoga Bakery sponsors a bike team and donated money to build bike trails.
On May 28, 2009 Schnatter was announced as Honorary Chair of the Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Louisville's Norton Cancer Institute. Schnatter will be riding in the two day cycling event that goes from Louisville to Lexington and back.[4]
John Schnatter is a resident and owns about 6% of the land in Anchorage, Kentucky, including much of the city center. He restored an interurban rail station, three historic buildings and built a fourth in a similar style in the city's center, with plans to build a bank, an upscale restaurant, and a hiking trail, which opened as the Anchorage Trail in June 2008.
In 1983, Schnatter sold his 1971 Camaro Z28 for $2,800 to help finance the family business. On August 26, 2009, he repurchased it for $250,000. In celebration, Papa John's offered a free pizza to anyone who owned a Camaro.[5]