over $50 million in the last three decades, and founded the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The home field of the University of Oklahoma Sooners football team was renamed Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium due to their contributions. Personal life, death and legacy Gaylord had several children, including Edward King Gaylord II, Mary Gaylord McClean, Louise Gaylord Bennett and Christy Gaylord Everest. Gaylord died of cancer on April 27, 2003, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His funeral was held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The Daily Oklahoman remained being controlled by the family 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. Edward L. Gaylord's daughters Christy Gaylord Everest and Louise Gaylord Bennett remain as board members. Both sought an updated look for the paper and seemed to present more frequent opposing viewpoints of issues of public concern. The company that bore his name, Gaylord Entertainment Company, transitioned into a real estate investment trust in 2012. 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. The Gaylord name transferred to Marriott, and now exists as a brand known as Gaylord Hotels, though RHP continues to own the physical properties. Awards and honors 1974 - Oklahoma Hall of Fame 1985 - Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Gaylord was the Host of the 1988 Achievement Summit at the Opryland Resort in Nashville. Notes and references 1919 births 2003 deaths Asheville School alumni Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni Harvard Business School alumni University of Oklahoma people United States Army personnel of World War II American billionaires Gaylord family Businesspeople from Oklahoma City Oklahoma Republicans Deaths from cancer in Oklahoma Ryman Hospitality Properties 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American philanthropists Philanthropists from Oklahoma