Also, the partners, Wallace and Wilson were particular about keeping a Bible in each room. Wilson and his brothers worked every summer from age 14 on, through college. They quickly built a strong roster, obtaining players such as Mel Daniels and Rick Mount. Before the establishment of 'Holiday Inn', this young man sold almost everything under the sun. And Orange Lake Country Club. [Electronic Version] Memphis. In July, 1974, this renowned businessman went ahead and purchased the 'Memphis Tams', a team belonging to the 'American Basketball Association'. Innovations like the company's Holidome indoor pools turned many hotels into roadside resorts. Charles Kemmons Wilson was born to insurance executive, Kemmons and his wife, Ruby Hall, on January 5, 1913. Wilson was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1957, Wilson franchised the chain as Holiday Inn of America and it grew dramatically, following Wilson's original tenet that the properties should be standardized, clean, predictable, family-friendly and readily accessible to road travellers. Net worth around $1.45 Billion; Kemmons Wilson Family - Founders of Holiday Inn, based in Memphis, TN. Retrieved September 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier. The richest of the rich, right here in Tennessee. Business Perspectives. [4] The chain dominated the motel market, leveraged its innovative Holidex reservation system, put considerable financial pressure on traditional hotels and set the standard for its competitors, like Ramada Inns, Quality Inn, Howard Johnson's, and Best Western. The life of Charles Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the 'Holiday Inn' chain of hotels, is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches story. Wilson retired from Holiday Inn in 1979. Wilson, the president, works with brothers Robert, 62, and C. Kemmons Jr., 60, both executive vice presidents and principals. Before the establishment of 'Holiday Inn', this young man sold almost everything under the sun. “She called Dad and said, ‘They say you’re worth all this money, and I’m down here and you give me this lousy allowance,’” recalls Wilson, 64. The 'Holiday Inn' hotels were known for their clean rooms, standard rates, and accessible to people on-the-go, making them suitable for families. [1], Wilson retired from Holiday Inn in 1979. Absorbing the lessonsWhen Spence Wilson’s sister Carole was a student the University of Alabama in 1972, their father, Kemmons Wilson—founder of the Holiday Inn chain—was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Tennessee is known as being an intensely conservative state, one that values financial independence, small government and down-home values. In 1968, Wilson bought Continental Trailways and merged the bus company into Holiday Inn. He opened the first Holiday Inn motel in Memphis in 1952, and quickly added others to create an entire hotel chain. Holiday Inn went international in 1960. Net worth … Retrieved on September 23, 2007 from EbscoHost. His 1996 autobiography, Half Luck and Half Brains, tells the story of Holiday Inn. [6] Innovations like the company's Holidome indoor pools turned many hotels into roadside resorts. The business flourished for almost thirty-eight years, before Wilson sold it to 'Bass PLC', a UK –based company that rechristened the hotels to ‘Holiday Inn Worldwide’. The hotels had certain characteristics, with the quality, cleanliness, and accessibility being top priority. Retrieved on September 27, 2007 from. This gave him the idea of starting a new business of running motels, for which he joined hands with Wallace E. Johnson as and Eddie Bluestein, who helped him in the investment and architecture aspects respectively. The chain of hotels remained in the hands of Kemmons till the year 1990, when it was bought by the British company 'Bass PLC' and renamed as 'Holiday Inn Worldwide'. Half Luck and Half Brains: The Kemmons Wilson, Holiday Inn Story. Lizzy’s grandfather, Kemmons Wilson, founded the business in 1951, known as The Kemmons Wilson Companies. [5] From then until 1979, when Holiday Inn sold Trailways to private investor Henry Lea Hillman Sr. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Holiday Inn television commercials were prone to show a Trailways bus pulling into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn hotel. Total commitment. By June 1972, when Wilson was featured on the cover of Time magazine, there were over 1,400 Holiday Inn hotels worldwide. What accounts for success? In 1996, this accomplished entrepreneur spoke about his rags-to-riches story, focusing on the inception of 'Holiday Inn', in his autobiography titled 'Half Luck and Half Brains'. Soon, he was motivated to build hotels, after a harrowing experience at dirty yet expensive roadside motel. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old. I have no great recollection of our parents ever saying we need to talk about financial responsibility. After selling his shares of Holiday Inn, he formed Wilson World , another hotel chain.[8]. [1], Wilson retired from Holiday Inn in 1979. [6] Innovations like the company's Holidome indoor pools turned many hotels into roadside resorts. Foster, D. Wayne. Kemmons Wilson Net Worth Kemmons Wilson was born on January 05, 1913 in Osceola, United States, is Businessman. [2]He opened the first Holiday Inn motel in Memphis in 1952, and quickly added others to create an entire hotel chain. Wilson was married to Dorothy Lee. Retrieved on September 23, 2007 from, Weathers, Ed. Kemmons Wilson was born on January 05, 1913 in Osceola, United States, is Businessman. [7], Wilson was the founder of many different kind of companies such as Holiday Inn Records. The shrewd salesman saved the profits and started acquiring movie theatres in many cities. Even if you don’t live in Greater Philadelphia, you may be familiar with Jeffrey Brown, a fourth-generation grocer who is chairman and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores. J.R. Hyde III - Founder of AutoZone, and largest stock holder of GTx Pharmaceutical Co. based in Memphis, TN. The Wilson name is synonymous with the Holiday Inn empire. Halifax Media Group was formed in 2010 from four entities: Stephens Capital Partners of Little Rock, JAARSSS Media, LLC of Miramar Beach, Fla. and Redding Investments of Daytona Beach. Charles Kemmons Wilson (January 5, 1913 – February 12, 2003) was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels. Total commitment. The same year, the first international hotel belonging to the chain was opened at Leiden, Holland, in Europe. Its first acquisition was the purchase of the Daytona Beach News-Journal for $20 million. (1975). The chain dominated the motel market, leveraged its innovative Holidex reservation system, put considerable financial pressure on traditional hotels and set the standard for its competitors, like Ramada Inns, Quality Inn, Howard Johnson's, and Best Western. Also Known As: Kemmons Wilson, Sr, Charles Kemmons Wilson, See the events in life of Kemmons Wilson in Chronological Order, The life of Charles Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the 'Holiday Inn' chain of hotels, is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches story. Retrieved September 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier. Innovations like the company's Holidome indoor pools turned many hotels into roadside resorts. Wilson was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1982. The Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management at the University of Memphis is named in his honor. They quickly built a strong roster, obtaining players such as Mel Daniels and Rick Mount. He was born in Osceola, Arkansas, the only child of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. The shrewd salesman saved the profits and started acquiring movie theatres in many cities. In 1968, Wilson bought Continental Trailways and merged the bus company into Holiday Inn. (1985). The life of Charles Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the 'Holiday Inn' chain of hotels, is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches story. The business flourished for almost thirty-eight years, before Wilson sold it to 'Bass PLC', a UK –based company that rechristened the hotels to ‘Holiday Inn Worldwide’. Nashville, TN: Hambleton-Hill Publishing, Inc. Salomon, Alan. Dorothy passed away after 59 years of a happy marriage, leaving behind her children and husband. [Electronic Version] Memphis. Wilson died in Memphis on February 12, 2003 at the age of 90 and is interred there in Forest Hill. In 1957, Wilson franchised the chain as Holiday Inn of America and it grew dramatically, following Wilson's original tenet that the properties should be standardized, clean, predictable, family-friendly and readily accessible to road travellers. As a result of business and family success, Kemmons and Dorothy created … Business Perspectives. (1996). They changed the team to the Memphis Sounds. [Electronic version]. He was born in Osceola, Arkansas, the only child of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson.His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old. His main income, however, came from selling ice cream, cigars and popcorn. His sister’s phone call to their father, Wilson says, “tells you something about the way we were brought up. Holiday Inn chain gives itself a face-lift. From then until 1979, when Holiday Inn sold Trailways to private investor Henry Lea Hillman Sr. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Holiday Inn television commercials were prone to show a Trailways bus pulling into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn hotel. The 10 Richest People In Tennessee. Wilson, Kemmons. Retrieved September 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier. Retrieved on September 23, 2007 from EbscoHost. Before the establishment of 'Holiday Inn', this young man sold almost everything under the sun. Holiday Inn went international in 1960. Having lost his father at a very young age, this boy took up the responsibility of earning a living, and helping out his single mother in every way possible. (The paper, at one time, had been estimated to be worth $300 million.) They changed the team to the Memphis Sounds. His main income, however, came from selling ice cream, cigars and popcorn. By June 1972, when Wilson was featured on the cover of Time magazine, there were over 1,400 Holiday Inn hotels worldwide. The team was the most successful pro basketball team that Memphis ever fielded; it finished fourth in the ABA's Eastern Division, advancing to the 1975 ABA Playoffs before losing the Eastern Division semifinal series four games to one to the eventual 1975 ABA champion Kentucky Colonels. In 1957, Wilson franchised the chain as Holiday Inn of America and it grew dramatically, following Wilson's original tenet that the properties should be standardized, clean, predictable, family-friendly and readily accessible to road travellers.

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