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Obituary... Edward L. Gaylord



Edward L. Gaylord, 83, died Sunday, April 27 in Oklahoma City from complications from cancer. Gaylord was the publisher of The Daily Oklahoman and had many business interests including Opryland in Nashville and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. He took over the Oklahoma Publishing Company (OPUBCO) in 1974 when his father, E.K. Gaylord, died. Gaylord expanded the company to include Opryland and the Gaylord Production Company which produced syndicated television series such as “Hee Haw” and the “Glenn Campbell Show.”

Gaylord has been a figure in the Saddlebred and Hackney pony industries since his daughter Mary began riding in Oklahoma with Harold Adams. In addition to Mary’s Golden Creek Farms, another sister, Louise Bennett has two daughters that ride in Oklahoma City with the Peggy Richardson Stables. Sister Christine took over as President of OPUBCO on December 2, 2002. Brother E.K. Gaylord II, Eddie, has been involved in the Thoroughbred business and was also a part of OPUBCO.

Gaylord was born May 28, 1919 in Oklahoma City. He attended Stanford University and graduated from there in 1941 before going on to attend the Harvard Business School and joining the Army. In 1946 he went to work with his father at OPUBCO. By 1948 he had already worked in circulation and advertising and moved up to executive vice-president, assistant general manager, director, and treasurer of OPUBCO.

He was president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and director of the Bureau of Advertising of the American Newspaper Publishers Association.

Funeral services will be held at 2p.m., Wednesday, April 30, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Noble Events Center under the direction of Hahn-Cook-Street and Draper.

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