Donald Preston Moore

Donald Preston Moore, 73, of Lanett, Alabama, founder and co-owner of Tenda Chick Restaurants, passed away Monday, July 16, 2007 in Montgomery, Alabama. He was born May 6, 1934 in Port Arthur, TX to James Preston Moore and Pearl Smith Moore. When Don was about seven years old the family moved back to Chambers County, Alabama. He graduated from Valley High School in 1952 and entered Auburn University as a freshman majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He then served in the U.S. Army 1957-59 stationed in Ft. Benning, GA and later at Ft. Knox, KY. As a member of the HQ Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Armored Calvary Regiment he served as personal aide to Battalion Commander Col. Bogen. Following his military service he lived in Atlanta, GA and worked for the Chevrolet Assembly Plant. While living in Atlanta he met Lataine Tanner of Alma, GA, they were married Sept. 16, 1961. They moved to Auburn and then to Chambers County in 1964. He worked for the Uniroyal Tire Co. 1964-1973 where he was a Quality Control Manager. During this time he operated a farm in Chambers County and also earned a bachelors degree in Agriculture Economics from Auburn University in 1968. In 1973 he studied at Cambridge University in England, along with veterinarians for Auburn University, on how to perform embryo transplants in Cattle. He also founded Moore-Hardy Ova Transfers, Inc., which was one of the first companies in the United States to perform embryo transplant surgery. He owned a barbecue restaurant in Plains, GA, during the time that Plains was a booming tourist town. In the early 1980's he worked as a real estate agent and appraiser. In 1987 he opened the first Tenda Chick restaurant in Valley, Alabama. In 1989 the business was relocated to Auburn and a second location was opened in Montgomery in 1994. Mr. Moore was a long time member of the Alabama Restaurant Association and served on the Board of Directors for eight years. He was selected as restaurateur of the year in 1998. Mr. Moore was most notably known for his outgoing personality. He never met a stranger and possessed the true gift of gab. He had the ability to captivate and entertain anyone and everyone and lived life to the fullest, enjoying every moment and pledging always to have fun. Mr. Moore was preceded in death by his Parents, his sister, Julia M. Dixon and his brother, John Phillip Moore and niece Kathy Quinn. He is survived by his wife, Lataine, one son Brian P. Moore (wife Teresa, grandson James Cameron Nix), one daughter, Molly M. Fulghum (husband Jeff) and a host of nieces and nephews including J. Ben Dixon (wife Kristen), Beth Dixon and Peggy Whatley (husband Carl). He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Shawmut, Valley, Alabama. Visitation was held Thursday evening July 19, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. EDT at Johnson-Brown Funeral Home in Valley, AL. Services were held Friday, July 20, 2007 at 1 p.m. ET at First Baptist Church of Shawmut in Valley, AL. Burial will followed at the Cusseta Cemetery in Cusseta, AL. Johnson Brown-Service of Valley is directing. Sign the guest book online at www.oanow.com