Planting Trees: Kelleyton Wilson’s Life of Service
Kelleyton Wilson’s (’00) life is built on his commitment to serving others. It has been instilled in him since he was a child, growing up in Dallas under the guidance and heavy influence of his caring grandfather, Perry Wilson. Combined with his grit and self-determination, Kelleyton has paved an accomplished path — and he’s just getting started.
With deep family ties in the East Texas town known as Reklaw — or Walker spelled backward — Kelleyton learned the lay of the land and the meaning of a dollar.
“It’s a small town, red dirt. That’s where I kind of cut my teeth on hunting and fishing, and my cousin ran a rodeo,” Kelleyton says. “For me, entrepreneurship started there because my great aunts and uncle owned a restaurant, cafe type deal. And that’s just kind of where it all started.”
Coming out of high school, he was recruited by UNT — among other schools — for track and field.
“UNT was one that was really heavy on getting me there,” he says. “But I actually began my matriculation in college in a small school in North Carolina that I went to for one semester. And then coming home, Coach Carl Sheffield was a sprint coach at UNT. He and I kind of talked over Christmas break.”
After talking it over with his grandfather, Perry, who said he’d love to have Kelleyton closer to home, it all came together with UNT offering him a scholarship.
“I transferred to UNT and the rest, as they say, is history,” Kelleyton says. “So, I guess I’m one of those guys who came and never left.”
Kelleyton’s track and field days proved fruitful — the scholarship paid for school, and being on the team led to great experiences travelling the country and competing. Kelleyton also joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at UNT, from which he gained values and brotherhood that remain in his life to this day.
“I have friendships that have been in place for almost 30 years now,” he says. “When I say it out loud, it sounds funny, but those men challenged us to do things at a level of excellence that most people couldn’t understand, crave or fathom. It’s always a challenge to be the best of what we can be at everything we do. Our mantra is achievement in every field of human endeavor, and we embrace that fully.”
After Kelleyton graduated with a bachelor’s in applied arts and sciences in 2000, he immediately moved into a successful business and entrepreneurial career, at times utilizing connections he made as a student.
“Two of the most impactful career moves I had came as a direct result of relationships I forged at UNT, and both of those men happened to be members of Kappa Alpha Psi, as well,” Kelleyton says. “So, it all comes full circle back to UNT.”
He maintains close ties to the university as a Lifetime Alumni Association member, board member and has generously endowed two scholarships that support UNT students, along with other volunteer work.
While he recently retired from his role as a senior client executive in capital markets at Microsoft, Kelleyton also thrives as a business owner and developer and is co-owner of multiple UPS Store franchises across North Texas, co-owner of Assembly House Restaurant and Assembly House Wine Co., and partner in the Gateway Park development in Sunnyvale, Texas.
Kelleyton also made history as the first African American elected to the Sunnyvale I.S.D. Board of Trustees. He serves on the board for Attack Life Sloan, which supports veterans battling ALS, mentors at-risk youth and inspires audiences as a keynote speaker, drawing on his experiences in business, leadership and faith.
Kelleyton’s life of service recently culminated in recognition at the UNT Alumni Awards in fall 2025, where he was presented with the Outstanding Alumni Service Award.
“That’s been a mantra of my life,” he says. “I’ve never tried to make things about me. It’s always been about what can I do to impact the lives of others. That’s something that I took on from my grandfather. He was a giver, and that’s just been innately placed in me from the time I was a young kid.”
Kelleyton’s grandfather, Perry, was born in 1931 and grew up during the trying times of the Great Depression, going on to live a full life dedicated to serving his family and his community. Perry passed away on October 1, 2025.
“I have never seen anyone who has been more of a pillar of faith, who has been such an example of wisdom, steadfastness, compassion, just overwhelming benevolence,” Kelleyton says. “He is the greatest man I know. Without him, I’m not here.”
Kelleyton was able to honor his grandfather, as well as the tremendous and lasting impact he leaves in a moving address at the UNT Alumni Awards.
“I had the chance to honor him in front of the entire university and that was probably the greatest moment of my life, having a chance to make that moment about him and what he means to me,” Kelleyton says.
Kelleyton says he hopes to achieve his grandfather’s level of selflessness someday and will work hard every day to do so. He is beginning to share the lessons he learned from his grandfather and those he has learned from life and business through a speaking tour that he is currently booking.
“I don’t think people understand how good you feel by serving others,” he says. “The quote that I leverage every single day is that I want to plant trees knowing I will never live long enough to enjoy the shade. I live by that.”
To learn more about Kelleyton’s journey, you also can go to https://kelleytonwilson.com.