OPUBCO sale marks end of an era

Through frontier violence, the Great Depression, the advent of radio and television, oil booms, oil busts and the dawning of the digital age, a Gaylord has been in control.

All that — more than 108 years and three generations of Gaylord family newspaper ownership — will come to an end one day this October when ownership of The Oklahoma Publishing Co. officially transfers to The Anschutz Corp., a diverse conglomerate owned by Denver businessman Philip Anschutz.

OPUBCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christy Everest told employees of the ownership transfer Thursday.

Everest told the employees this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Gaylord family to sell the business to another family with nearly identical values and much greater financial resources to help the company achieve its potential.

Community leaders shared Everest's optimism this week, but also expressed more than a little sadness at what will be going away.

“The thing I think about with the Gaylord family is their complete and total dedication to making Oklahoma the best it could be,” said Robert Henry, president of Oklahoma City University. “They always strived to improve the city. It's a wonderful legacy. ... One can't help but be a little sad.”