Edward Lewis Gaylord (May 28, 1919 – April 27, 2003) was an American billionaire businessman, media mogul and philanthropist.
He was the founder of the Gaylord Entertainment Company that included The Oklahoman newspaper, Oklahoma Publishing Co., Gaylord Hotels, the Nashville Network TV Channel (later renamed SpikeTV, Spike, and Paramount Network after being sold off); the Grand Ole Opry, and the Country Music Television Channel (CMT) as well as the defunct Opryland USA theme park and a bankrupt airline, Western Pacific Airlines.
He attended the Harvard Business School and served in the United States Army during World War II.
[1] The Daily Oklahoman remained under the Gaylord family's control until the sale in 2011; the news features and editorial position of the paper reflect affiliation with The Washington Examiner, which has the same owner.
Both sought an updated look for the paper and seemed to present more frequent opposing viewpoints on issues of public concern.
As part of a long-term contract giving Marriott International the rights to manage its hotels and adjacent attractions, the company was renamed Ryman Hospitality Properties.