Memorial service announced for Memphis businessman Mike Bowen, who died Saturday

A visitation and memorial service have been set for Memphis businessman Mike Bowen, who died in a car crash while in Costa Rica on Saturday.

Bowen, president and CEO of Champion Awards, Inc., graduated from Memphis State University in 1979. He founded Custom Print Apparel in 1978, which became Champion Awards Inc.

A visitation for Bowen will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Cordova's Hope Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, according to Bowen's son, Michael Bowen. A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to: Kindred Place, 2180 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104.

The T-Shirt Champions Twitter account on Sunday confirmed that Bowen died Saturday.

"It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved CEO, leader, and friend Mike Bowen on Saturday, February 9, 2019," the post reads.

The company was the largest local licensee for University of Memphis merchandise.

Bowen also founded Memphis Souvenirs in 1993, according to the biography on his company website.

He was a lifetime member of the University of Memphis Alumni Association and an active member of the Tiger Scholarship Fund. He was also a member of the Memphis Convention Bureau, Memphis Chamber of Commerce and the Beale Street Merchant’s Association.

Bowen was also a graduate of Leadership Memphis and was serving on the organization’s board of directors for the 2018-2019 class.

This story will be updated. 

The 9:01:Mike Bowen, a champion for Memphis, dies in Costa Rica car crash