THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE DREAMS, IDEAS AND GOALS COME TO FRUITION, IS THE CORE OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE OURS IN AMERICA.

- Denise Burnett Stewart

SMALL BUSINESS DRIVES THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. IT THRIVES AND SURVIVES NO MATTER WHAT MAY BE GOING ON IN THE MAIN ECONOMY.

- Dick Gadomski

UNLESS WE PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXCITING BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE IN OUR COUNTRY.

- Allen B. Morgan, Jr.

James H. Prentiss

River Oaks Investment Corp.
President

In Memphis, TN the name “Jim Prentiss” is synonymous with philanthropy, and total commitment to civic causes and the arts. Along with his wife, Carol, Jim has perhaps given more time and money to various organizations throughout the city than any other Memphian. Notably of late, the Prentiss’ $5 million donation to the Memphis Zoo in 1997 to kick off its new building program was one of the single-largest donations by a Memphian to a Memphis organization.

Jim Prentiss got in the restaurant business, and he was president, chairman, and CEO of Shoney’s South, a major Shoney’s restaurant franchise that he founded in 1958. In 1988, Shoney’s South was sold; in 1989 he left the company, founded River Oaks Investment Corporation and began to devote his life to philanthropy. Mr. Prentiss’ involvements included the Memphis Zoological Society (chairman of the board), the Memphis Food Bank, United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Rhodes College, Ballet Memphis, Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation, and Urban Youth Initiative Board. Mr. Prentiss was a 1992 inductee into the Society of Entrepreneurs.

Description of Business

Money Management

Year Business Founded

1989

Year Inducted

1992

Thoughts on Entrepreneurship

“Risking capital or borrowed capital is only the beginning. Total commitment to customer satisfaction is mandatory.”