C. Kemmons “Kem” Wilson, Jr., was brought up modestly, despite his father’s success in founding the Holiday Inn chain of hotels. Now the Vice Chairman of the Board of Kemmons Wilson Companies, with interests in hospitality, real estate development, private equity and aviation. Wilson continues his father’s legacy of impressive success coupled with personal modesty and commitment to service.
Born in 1946 to C. Kemmons and Dorothy Wilson, Wilson attended The University of Alabama, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1968. Wilson also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1979 in its Owner/President Management program. He also served in the U.S. Navy.
He became actively involved in the management of family business in 1971. The company developed hotels, apartments, condos, office buildings, shopping centers and warehouses nationwide. Wilson also built the first Factory Outlet Mall in the U.S.
In the decades since, the company has diversified and manages or owns hotel properties across Alabama, including Embassy Suites in downtown Tuscaloosa and the hotel at Alabama’s Gulf State Park. This latter property was an outcome of litigation related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster — a settlement with BP allowed for the construction of a lodge focused on environmental sustainability. Attorney Cooper Shattuck, who was involved in the litigation, said, “[The Lodge at Gulf State Park] would not have been possible without the insight, know-how, and dedication of Kem Wilson. Kem was an invaluable consultant who made the vision and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality. And the continued success of the Lodge shows just how right he was.”
Furthermore, the Kemmons Wilson Companies portfolio includes Valor Hospitality Partners, which provides a comprehensive approach toward lodging from the conceptualization and design of new buildings to the management of existing properties. The firm has active and passive stakes in many other companies including Central BBQ, Billy Reid, Tecovas, the Memphis Grizzlies, WISEACRE Brewery Co., and SpaceX.
The family also oversees a vast Vacation Ownership network called Holiday Inn Vacation Club. It owns and operates 30 world-class resorts and recently received the J.D. Power Award for Outstanding Customer service.
Committed to generosity and civic engagement, Wilson is a member of The University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors, a former trustee of Furman University, and chairman of the board of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management at the University of Memphis. He was also a member of the board of directors of Regions Financial Corporation.
Wilson is a man of deep faith, and he serves on the board of directors of Campus Crusade for Christ, DownLine Ministries, and Baptist Hospital Foundation. For the past 25 years, Wilson has intentionally invested in the next generation through mentoring, discipleship, and fostering stewardship. He has started numerous ministries and planted a church where he serves as an elder.
For all his contributions, he has been named Memphis’ “Philanthropist of the Year” and “Mentor of the Year.”
In his spare time, Wilson likes to hunt, fly fish, hike, and play golf. He also likes to cheer for the Crimson Tide football team. He
is married to the former Norma Thompson, and they have five children: Caruthers (Carey) Wilson Snider; Kemmons Wilson III; Katherine Wilson Blackney; McLean Thompson Wilson; and Elizabeth Wilson Pelly. They have “20” grandchildren.
