Kemmons wilson biography brainstorm

The Father of the Modern Hotel Industry

Kemmons Wilson was born in Osceola, Arkansas in 1913 and before he was a year old his father had died, leaving only his mother to take care of him.  She picked him up and the pair moved to Memphis, Tennessee.  Wilson grew up there and went to school but dropped out at 17 to help support his family during the Great Depression when his mother lost her job.  And support it he did!

A natural salesman, Wilson took to entrepreneurship like a fish to water.

Borrowing $50 from a friend he bought a popcorn machine and he was off, selling popcorn in front of movie theaters!  Within three years he had saved $1,700 ($31,000 in today’s dollars) which was extraordinary in the middle of the worst depression America had ever seen.  Through his career he sold popcorn, ice cream, cigars and more, later installing pinball machines, jukeboxes and vending machines in movie theaters and other establishments.