http://www.gotigersgo.com/news/2015/11/1...53027.aspx

Quote:MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On Saturday, November 14, both the University of Memphis and the University of Southern Mississippi basketball programs will honor Gene D. Carlisle, a prominent businessman and friend of Tiger Athletics, who passed away on May 29, 2015.

The two programs, which have a long tradition of strong competition against each other – and have played 88 times prior to this season - will play their 2015-16 season openers against each other while wearing a black circular patch, emblazoned with GC on it.

Carlisle was a passionate Tiger Basketball and Tiger Athletics Supporter and fan. He was a major contributor to the University of Memphis Law School Capital Campaign to move downtown, and was a member of the highest annual giving level within the Tiger Scholarship Fund.

He was also a member of the University of Memphis Presidents Society, Society of the Shield, and the Centennial Circle.

Carlisle owned and operated nearly 100 Wendy's restaurants throughout the South East, including in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina. While as President and CEO, he oversaw more than 3,500 employees and managed more than $135 million in sales annually.

By 1982, he founded Carlisle Corporation, which became the parent holding company for its subsidiaries Carlisle Properties, Carlisle Hotels, Inc., Carlisle Media, Wenstar and Wendelta, Inc.

The owner and creator of Carlisle Properties, he managed and developed apartments and office buildings throughout the South East for more than 30 years. In the late seventies, he was selected as the developer for the Beale Street Historic District in Memphis, one of the city's most prominent projects of the time.

A graduate of the University of Southern Miss, he was on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, and also on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Film and Tape Commission. In 2006 he was enshrined in the Wendy's Hall of Fame, and in 2005 became a member of the Memphis Society of Entrepreneurs. In 2004 he was given both the Wendy's Founders Award and the nationally recognized Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
­
He is survived by his wife, Karen, who is a graduate of the University of Memphis; daughter, Courtney Bolton (John) of Los Angeles; sons, Chance Carlisle (Jessica) and Chase Carlisle (Elizabeth), both of Memphis; his four grandchildren, Carlisle and Savannah Rye Bolton, Charlotte Carlisle, Miles Carlisle and his future granddaughter, Tully Carlisle.

Our field is named after him I think.

(11-13-2015 02:52 PM)GCEagle Wrote:  Our field is named after him I think.

Yes it is. It is named Carlisle-Falkner Field at MM Roberts Stadium.

Gene purchased the first turf we had at the rock. He also contributed 5 million towards the end zone expansion.

Several years back gene gave his best performing wendys to the usm foundation. then leased back the operations for 5 years. At the end of the 5 years he bought the store back from the foundation.

Gene has given upwards of 10 million to usm causes over his life.

BUT the thing Gene is best remembered for lol He was the mascot back in the 60's. Before we were the eagles we were the Southerners. He was dressed as a Confederate general and rode a horse. One night he had too many libations inside him and fell off the horse during a game.

Carlisle Corp's One Beale will be a 30-story monument to Mr Gene...I can't wait to see it finished, as a new addition to our skyline.

Both schools lost a big friend.....

That's really cool how the schools are doing a joint tribute. I knew he was in Memphis and active in the community, but I did not know he was a big U of M donor. Man, what a quality, generous human being he was.

(11-14-2015 03:25 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  That's really cool how the schools are doing a joint tribute. I knew he was in Memphis and active in the community, but I did not know he was a big U of M donor. Man, what a quality, generous human being he was.

Mr Gene had a vision for Memphis...projects like One Beale, the Chisca Hotel renovation, bringing LYFE Kitchens to Memphis...even in his later years, he had a profound impact on Memphis.