Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inns, introduces Orange Lake Resort & Country Club in 1982

Kemmons received a multitude of awards for his accomplishments. If you consider that Kemmons left formal education in his early years to help support his mother, these awards represent a significant personal achievement.

Awards
Horatio Alger Award — Horatio Alger Association
International Achievement Award — World Trade Club of San Francisco
International Executive of the Year — Sales and Marketing Executives International
National Business Hall of Fame — Fortune Magazine/Junior Achievement
National Human Relations Award — National Conference of Christians and Jews
The Al Chymia Shriners Man of the Year — Memphis Shriners
Entrepreneur Award — International Franchise Association
Lifetime Achievement Award — UCLA Extension's Hotel Ind. Invest. Conf.
Lifetime Achievement — Lifetime Achievement Award & Hospitality Hall of Fame Pennsylvania State University
America's Free Enterprise Living Legend Award — Students in Free Enterprise
Businessman of the Year — Religious Heritage of America
Ned McWherter Award of Excellence — Martin Methodist College
Hall of Fame — American Motel Magazine
Hall of Fame — American Society of Travel Agents
Hall of Fame — Hospitality Magazine
Hall of Fame — International Franchise Association
Hall of Leaders — Travel Industry Association
Building Industry of Tennessee Hall of Fame — Home Builders Association of Tennessee
Memphis Business Hall of Fame — Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce
Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor — University of Houston
Cook Halle Award — Carnival Memphis
Outstanding Business Leader Award — Northwood Institute
Golden Plate Award — American Academy of Achievement
National Image Award — Real Estate Board of Memphis
Master of Free Enterprise Achievement Award — Junior Achievement
Outstanding Citizen Award — Civitan International-Memphis Civitan Club
Academy of Achievement — Sales and Marketing Executives International
Entrepreneurial Hall of Honor — Pink Palace Museum

Honors
University of Alabama — Doctor of Laws — 1968
Rhodes College — Doctor of Business Administration — 1972
Northwood Institute — Doctor of Laws — 1973
William Woods College — Doctor of Humanities — 1978
Christian Brothers University — Doctor of Humanities — 1979