Bio
Edward King Gaylord (1873–1974), often called E.K. Gaylord, was a prominent American newspaper publisher and media entrepreneur. Born in Kansas, Gaylord was educated in Colorado and started his career in publishing with his brother in Colorado and Missouri. In 1902, he moved to Oklahoma and bought an interest in The Daily Oklahoman, later transforming it into a major statewide newspaper. In 1918, he became president of the Oklahoma Publishing Company (OPUBCO), overseeing the growth of the paper and expanding into radio and television, founding Oklahoma’s first major radio station, WKY, and television station, WKY-TV.
Gaylord was also influential in Oklahoma’s statehood movement and built a media empire that included both print and broadcast journalism. He passed away in 1974 at the age of 101. His family continued his media legacy, with his son Edward L. Gaylord significantly increasing the family fortune and diversifying into television, creating the Nashville Network (TNN) and Country Music Television (CMT).
The Gaylord family also became known for their philanthropy, donating to various causes, including major support for the University of Oklahoma. The family’s contributions established the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
