Toby S. Wilt

Toby S. Wilt
Bornc. 1945
EducationVanderbilt University
Occupation(s)Businessman, golfer, philanthropist

Toby Wilt (born c. 1945) is an American businessman and golfer. He is a member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame and the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame. He was one of the founders of the Golf Club of Tennessee and was director the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) for its first 19 years. In 2013, he was paired with Brandt Snedeker and the duo won the 2013 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Beginning in 2008, Wilt began an annual role as the "starter" on the first tee for Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club before an international television audience. Wilt says, "Fore please, (player's name) now driving".[1]

Early life

Wilt was born circa 1945[2] in Evanston, Illinois, and played wingback on Evanston Township High School's Wildkits in 1960.[3] He attended Vanderbilt University on a football scholarship, and he also played on the golf team there in the 1960s.[4] He has a degree in civil engineering and he is also a certified public accountant (non-practicing).[2]

Career

He serves as the president of the TSW Investment Company.[2] He is the chairman of the Christie Cookie Company and a director of the CapStar Bank.[5] Wilt has served on numerous corporate boards[6] across six different industries.[2] He has two sons and a daughter. One son, T.J. Wilt, as of 2013, was a majority owner of "Cumberland Transit", a bicycle and outdoor-goods business in Nashville.[7] Fleming Wilt is the president of Christie Cookies, founded in 1983 as a single store in Nashville. In 2019, the company was acquired by Rich Products, a New York-based company.[8] His daughter, Jodi Wilt Banks, is a homemaker in Nashville.

Golf

At Vanderbilt University, he created the Toby S. Wilt athletic scholarship, originally for football, but later expanded to include golf. Former recipients include PGA Tour players Luke List and Brandt Snedeker. In 2013, Wilt teamed with Snedeker and won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Golf Tournament.[9] Wilt was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame and the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.[10]

With billionaire businessman Bronson Ingram and George N. Gillett, Jr., Wilt co-founded the Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs in 1991.[11] This is an 18-hole Tom Fazio course on 317–acres (218 hectares) near Nashville. It contains a 31,000 sq ft clubhouse and the Ingram Cabin and can accommodate 16 overnight guests.[12] Wilt was director the Tennessee Golf Foundation for its first 19 years[9] The Tennessee Golf Foundation's primary fundraiser is musician Vince Gill's Annual Golf tournament, "the Vinny", held at the Golf Club of Tennessee.[13]

Each spring, Wilt serves as the starter on the first tee at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club,[14] of which he is a member.[15]

References

  1. ^ Yadav, Ankita (April 12, 2012). "Why do they say fore please at the Masters? Augusta National's traditions explored". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "TLC Vision Corp: Executive Profile: Toby S. Wilt". bloomberg.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Leo, Ralph (October 27, 1960). "Evanston Football Coach's Goal in Drilling Squad: Perfection!". Vol. 119, no. 258. Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 12, Part 5. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Vanderbilt Magazine: Where Are They Now". news.vanderbilt.edu. Vanderbilt University. 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Biography: Toby S. Wilt, Director". ir.capstarbank.com. Capstar. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "John Duncan, Toby Wilt Join 3rd National Board". Vol. 76, no. 248. The Tennessean. December 11, 1981. p. 29. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Capps, Milt (October 21, 2013). "New owner TJ Wilt pushes Cumberland Transit along e-commerce trail". venturenashville.com. VNC Precision Content Group. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  8. ^ Alfs, Lizzie (August 24, 2019). "NY firm acquires Christie Cookie". Vol. 115, no. 236. The Tennessean. p. 6–A.
  9. ^ a b Organ, Mike (September 26, 2016). "Midstate Chatter". The Tennessean. p. 2–C. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  10. ^ "Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame". vucommodores.com. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Davy, Jimmy (July 10, 1995). "Course of the Rich and Famous". Vol. 91, no. 191. The Tennessean. pp. 1C, 3C. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Club". thegolfcluboftn.com. The Golf Club of Tennessee. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. ^ Patton, Maurice (July 11, 1995). "Daly really big hit with fans". Vol. 91, no. 192. The Tennessean. p. 6C. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "2017 Hall of Fame:Toby Wilt". vucommodores.com. Vanderbilt University. August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "Augusta National Golf Club members list". USA Today. August 4, 2004.