Tyrone Adam Burroughs was born and raised in the small town of Lane, South Carolina. He had always valued education, even graduating from high school when he was 16. Then he attended Benedict College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science when he was only 19. After college, Mr. Burroughs wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and join the military. Unfortunately, while serving in the military, during a medical examination, he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and was told he would most likely be blind by age 40. From then on, he only wanted to see his future kids grow up and watch them graduate. A fateful decision to return to college at the University of South Carolina for his graduate degree led to meeting his future wife, Nelda. They were married in 1981; moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1985. They have three children and six grandchildren.
In 1987, Tyrone Burroughs founded First Choice Sales & Marketing Company, revolutionizing the personal care market with strategic solutions that drive growth for global consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. Under his leadership, the company, headquartered in Memphis, has become a key player in the $1.7 trillion multicultural personal care market, employing over 100 professionals. Through Mr. Burroughs' leadership First Choice Sales & Marketing has received numerous industry awards and recognition for developing unique programs that connect their clients to a target market.
Mr. Burroughs is the chairman of First Choice Global, Inc. and other holdings that include First Choice Opportunity Fund, South City LP., Beau Ventures, LLC., MG Capital Holdings Inc., 115 Union Ave, LLC., The Pocket Bistro, and R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home. Often lauded for his ability to create business opportunities, Mr. Burroughs has been described as a catalyst for breakthrough results and accelerating progress while fostering positive business relationships. In 2019, he launched Burroughs Restaurant Group Inc., which now owns the US Mid-South franchise rights of Guthrie's Chicken Restaurants.
Believing it his duty to give back to his community, in 2010, Tyrone and Nelda created The Burroughs Foundation. This foundation contributes to philanthropic programs that empower diverse communities. Their mission is "to radically close the generational wealth gap for communities of color by providing them access to the resources needed to ensure long-term financial security." He has also sponsored mission work in China, fed the needy in Memphis, provided significant support to churches, and spent time visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals. He has also helped pay for college for numerous students throughout the country. Tyrone Burroughs also supports the community by mentoring, advising other entrepreneurs, and serving as a board member. Past Board memberships include Ronald McDonald House, Regional One Health Hospital Board of Directors, and the Shelby County Convention Center Board. He currently serves as a board member for the St. Jude Memphis African American Engagement Council, WKNO Board of Trustees, Faith-Based & Community Initiative Foundation, Tennessee Lottery Commission, Greater Memphis Chamber- Chairman's Circle, Memphis Theological Seminary, and Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank- Memphis Branch.
He also serves as a member of the Benedict College Board of Trustees, Board of Directors of Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, Chairman of The Burroughs Foundation Inc., Chairman of the Trustee Board for the historic Metropolitan Baptist Church, Memphis NAACP Branch of Directors, and Global Beauty Alliance Board. In 2017, in recognition of his philanthropic achievements in the education of America's youth, Benedict College School of Business & Economics was renamed the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship. That same year, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. A 2021 inductee to The Society of Entrepreneurs, he recently received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boys Scouts of America for his charitable work. Tyrone Burroughs has been involved with many charities and organizations in Memphis and has had many accomplishments throughout his life. One of his most significant accomplishments was seeing all three of his children not only graduate from high school but also graduate from college, receive post-graduate degrees, and ultimately start families of their own.
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