Die-hard college fanatics support their schools ‘till the day they die. Eternal fans show school pride even longer.
Die-hard fans can now enter the afterlife in caskets and urns emblazoned with university teams’ colors and logos, including The University of Memphis’ own blue and gray, thanks to casket wholesaler Collegiate Memorials.
“This is more than just selling a casket - it’s a celebration of life,” said Scott Walston, president and chief executive officer of Collegiate Memorials, the only company in the United States which sells a complete line of collegiate funeral products.
Walston said Macon, Georgia-based Collegiate Memorials, which was founded in November, was started to allow the bereaved a chance to remember hobbies and interests in which the deceased found joy.
“People will tell you three things when they meet you: whom they married, how many kids they have and where they went to college,” Walston said. “Not only are we proud of our college days, but for many of us they’re the happiest days of our lives.”
A desire to remember the “happiest days” has created a solid niche for Collegiate Memorials. The company has sold 56 caskets since they opened their doors in June.
Caskets come in one of the schools’ traditional colors with a university-approved logo on the inside of the lid. Logo-bearing caskets are also available in silver finishes, wood and “white caskets for the ladies,” Walston said. Urns and monuments displaying the colors and logo are also available.
The caskets cost about $3,200, according to Walston.
Collegiate Memorials offers funeral vessels with logos from 46 colleges and universities, including The U of M, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of Mississippi. Walston said he hopes to add another 200 schools to its list in the next two years.
Although no one has bought a U of M casket, Walston said it’s only a matter of time before someone does.
“It’s inconceivable that someone would never buy a school’s product,” Walston said.
Walston said the popularity of a school’s casket depends on factors such as the number of a school’s supportive alumni and the school’s athletic performance.
“Sometimes sales go along with how well the schools are doing, so we’ve had a lot of interest in Florida right now,” he said, laughing.
The University of Nebraska is the most popular school, having sold 19 caskets.
Representatives from Memphis funeral homes said although they can get caskets from Collegiate Memorials, no one has asked for one.
“Most of the people making funeral pre-arrangements are far removed from their college days,” said Bill Lifsey, vice president of Canale Funeral Directors.
Walston said that many of the people who have bought college caskets are baby boomers buying final resting places for their parents.
Although no one has bought a U of M casket, Tennessee isn’t a dead end for college coffins. Walston said the University of Tennessee-Knoxville has sold “a few” of their bright orange caskets.
“If you’re a big UT fan, why not go out in UT style?” asked Nancy Tacker, owner of Family Heritage Casket Gallery. Tacker said no one has requested any collegiate coffins from Family Heritage Casket Gallery.
Walston said no one has complained or spoken negatively about Collegiate Memorials. In fact, the fledgling company has been highlighted on CNN, ESPN and the Fox Network.
“This is an idea whose time has come,” Walston said.
