Kemmons Wilson (January 5, 1913 – February 12, 2003) was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels. Jump to: navigation, search January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Jump to: navigation, search February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the hotel chain; for the film, please see Holiday Inn (film). ... Jump to: navigation, search A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis and especially for tourists. ...

He was born Charles Kemmons Wilson in Osceola, Arkansas, a son of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old. Shortly thereafter, his mother, Doll, moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she raised him. Osceola is a city located in Mississippi County, Arkansas. ... Jump to: navigation, search Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, of which it is the county seat. ...

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. Jump to: navigation, search 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Wilson was married to Dorothy Lee.

His autobiography, Half Luck and Half Brains, tells the story of the Holiday Inn.

Kemmons Wilson died in Memphis and is interred in Forest Hill Cemetery - Midtown in Memphis, Tennessee.

External links

The late Kemmons Wilson's personal Page

See also

Conrad Hilton Conrad Nicholson Hilton (December 25, 1887–January 3, 1979) was an American hotelier and founder of the Hilton Hotel chain. ...