University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis and Southern Miss to Honor Gene Carlisle
Nov 10, 2015 | Men's Basketball
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.
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.
~ gotigersgo.com ~
Men's Basketball: Penny Hardaway, Dug McDaniel & Curtis Givens III Press Conference-October 27, 2025
Tuesday, October 28
Football: Ryan Silverfield Press Conference-October 27, 2025
Monday, October 27
Men's Basketball: Penny Hardaway Press Conference-October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Men's Basketball: Aaron Bradshaw and Dug McDaniel Press Conference-October 7, 2025
Tuesday, October 07