Reginald Eugene "Reggie" Barnes

Reginald "Reggie" Eugene Barnes, a lifelong Memphian, died Tuesday Morning, May 27tr with his family by his side. Born on March 31, 1947, to Velma and Gene Barnes. Reggie and his Sister Candy Barnes Canzoneri grew up in Memphis TN. Reggie graduated from Messick High School in 1965 and went on to attend the University of Mississippi, where he was a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned a degree in Business from Ole Miss in January 1970, taking an extra football season before completing his studies. In February 1970, he joined J.M. Wells & Company, where he began his career selling municipal bonds. The firm later became Wells - Towns & Company. From May 1970 through 1976, he served in the Army National Guard, returning from basic training in October 1970 and resuming his work in the bond business. In August 1972, he joined the Union Planters bond department, where he spent the next three years. Reggie married the former Martha Bowen in June 1971, and together they had two wonderful boys, Chuck and Armour. Reggie spent over 30 years as a managing director of Morgan Keegan where he developed many lifelong friendships. Reggie was a devoted member of the Memphis Country Club from 1974 until his passing, serving on the Board of Directors as Greens Chairman for six years. His love of golf and organizing events became central to his life. Reggie chaired or co-chaired numerous charitable events throughout the years, including: The Coaches' Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament (four years), The American Cancer Society Backgammon Tournament (five years), The Kroger Le Bonheur Senior Celebrity Golf Tournament (five years), The University of Memphis Golf Outing (five years), raising $2.5 million. In addition, he created a beloved annual golf trip known as "The Rug's Ice & Snow," which ran for 12 years beginning in 1980. Each February or March, he gathered 12 to 24 friends to escape the bleak Memphis winter for warm destinations such as La Quinta in Palm Springs, Doral in Miami, the PGA National in Palm Beach, Camelback in Scottsdale, Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Bay Hill in Orlando, and Palmilla Cabo San Lucas, Mexico just to name a few. In the summers, he hosted a mini "Ice and Snow" trip to his beloved Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi, owned by his good friend George Bryan. These three-day weekends with 12 to 16 friends became cherished traditions. Reggie served on the Liberty Bowl Board of Directors beginning in 1978, was president of the Liberty Bowl in 1986, and chaired the Team Selection Committee from 1989 to 1996. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Memphis Golf Association (1986–1992) and the Memphis Park Commission (1988–1992).
From 1985 to 1995, he was appointed by Mayor Dick Hackett as Chairman of the Memphis Sports Commission, helping to bring several major sporting events to Memphis, including: The 1990 Ole Miss vs. Tennessee football game, The 1995 Ole Miss vs. Arkansas football game, The 1996 Ole Miss vs. Tennessee football game. Reggie played a key role in bringing the SEC Basketball Tournament to Memphis in 1994 and 1997, working alongside Kevin Kane and the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau as chairman of the host committee. Reggie made the initial call to Mr. Michael Heisley to discuss bringing the Vancouver Grizzlies to Memphis where he set up a meeting between key personnel of Mr. Heisley's and Mayors Harrington and Route of Memphis and Shelby County. That meeting led to the grizzlies moving to Memphis Reggie also served on the Board of Directors of Youth Programs Inc. (YPI), which is the governing board of the FedEx St. Jude’s championship. He served there from 1989 through 2023 and was chairman of the golf tournament from 2005 through 2007 when the Stanford financial group Blew into town, fired him, and attempted to overtake not only our sports, but also financial and arts expertise in Memphis. Fortunately, the YPI board kept their 501(c)(3) designation and after Stanford was ousted, the PGA tour came back and asked YPI and Memphis to continue the tournament. Reggie was an avid golfer and college football fan, and he enjoyed nearly all sports. In retirement, he continued to travel and spent many joyful afternoons playing Gin Rummy in the card room at the Memphis Country Club with six to twelve of his closest friends. Reggie lived a full and wonderful life, with very few regrets. Services will be held at Church of the Holy Communion, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Visitation will be from 12:30-1:30 PM, followed by Memorial Service at 1:30 PM. Family requests memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.