Edward Gaylord

Edward Lewis Gaylord
Born	Template:Birth date Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	April 27, 2003(2003-04-27) (aged 83) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, media executive, benefactor
Known for	Founder of Gaylord Entertainment Company; ownership of The Oklahoman, Grand Ole Opry, The Nashville Network, Country Music Television (CMT), Gaylord Hotels

Edward Lewis Gaylord (May 28, 1919 – April 27, 2003) was a prominent American billionaire entrepreneur, media executive, and benefactor. He established the Gaylord Entertainment Company, which encompassed assets such as The Oklahoman newspaper, Oklahoma Publishing Company, Gaylord Hotels, the Nashville Network television channel (which was later rebranded as SpikeTV and Paramount Network), the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Television (CMT), the now-closed Opryland USA amusement park, and Western Pacific Airlines.

Early life

Gaylord was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the son of Edward K. Gaylord, who owned The Daily Oklahoman. He earned a business degree from Stanford University in 1941, pursued further studies at Harvard Business School, and served in the United States Army during the Second World War.

Career

Starting his career at Oklahoma Publishing in 1946, Gaylord gained controlling ownership of The Daily Oklahoman following his father’s passing in 1974. He took over the financially struggling Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and ensured its continued operation. He also launched The Nashville Network and Country Music Television (CMT), networks similar to MTV but focused on country music. Additionally, he owned the country-themed variety program Hee Haw. Gaylord was a part-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team alongside George W. Bush. Until February 2003, he served as chairman of Gaylord Entertainment Company.

His leadership extended to roles such as president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and board member of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. As publisher of The Oklahoman, he advocated conservative viewpoints opposing excessive government expenditure but faced scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest—for example, when the newspaper endorsed public financing for a Bass Pro Shop while his company held substantial Bass Pro stock. He was also connected to the conservative organization Council for National Policy.

Philanthropy

The Gaylord family played a significant role in establishing Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and donated more than $50 million to the University of Oklahoma over thirty years. Their contributions led to the creation of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. In honor of their support, the university's football stadium was renamed Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Personal life, death and legacy

Gaylord had two sisters and several children, including Edward King Gaylord II, Mary Gaylord McClean, Louise Gaylord Bennett, and Christy Gaylord Everest. He passed away from cancer in 2003 in Oklahoma City; his memorial service took place at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Ownership of The Daily Oklahoman remained within the family until its sale in 2011; daughters Christy Gaylord Everest and Louise Gaylord Bennett continue to serve on its board, promoting editorial modernization with broader perspectives.

In 2012, Gaylord Entertainment Company shifted its focus to become a real estate investment trust and adopted the name Ryman Hospitality Properties after Marriott International assumed hotel management responsibilities. The Gaylord brand was transferred to Marriott as Gaylord Hotels, while Ryman Hospitality retained ownership of the underlying properties.

Awards and honors

• 1974 – Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
• 1985 – Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Gaylord served as host for the 1988 Achievement Summit held at the Opryland Resort in Nashville.