Donald W. Reynolds

Donald Worthington Reynolds (September 23, 1906 – April 2, 1993) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of Donrey Media Group, a communications company with newspaper, broadcasting and cable television holdings, and outdoor advertising.

Biography

Reynolds was the son of Gaines W. Reynolds, a wholesale grocery salesman, and his wife, Anna Louise. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and got his first job in the newspaper business selling papers at the local railroad station.

In high school, Reynolds decided he wanted to attend the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. He worked during high school and successive summers at a meat packing plant to pay for his studies. While at the University of Missouri, he was initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha. He graduated in 1927.

Reynolds' first business venture was a photo engraving plant. He then purchased and sold the Quincy Evening News in Massachusetts, using the proceeds from that sale to buy the Okmulgee Daily Times in Oklahoma and the Southwest Times Record in Arkansas. Those two papers launched the Donrey Media Group. Operating mostly in small towns, the group grew to include more than 100 businesses, including newspapers, radio stations, television stations, cable television operations, and billboard companies. Perhaps his biggest success came with the ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the largest newspaper in Nevada.

Reynolds interrupted his newspaper career to serve in the military during World War II, initially in military intelligence and, later, as the officer in charge of the Pacific and London editions of the "soldiers' newspaper," Yank, the Army Weekly. He attained the rank of Major, received the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal during his military service, and returned to civilian status in 1945.

He focused his business acumen on businesses located in small but growth-oriented communities, and these communities often were the recipients of the grants by the charitable foundation he created.

Reynolds died on April 2, 1993, on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea, at the age of 86. A large sum of money from his business ventures went to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

Reynolds left three children on his death: Nancy, Donald, and Jonathan. Forbes Magazine noted that Reynolds's three children were to receive trust income of $50,000 a year for life, but would be left only $1 if they were to unsuccessfully contest his will. The bulk of the estate was left to The Donald W Reynolds Foundation.

Broadcasting Donrey Media Group, its subsidiaries and affiliates, owned the following broadcast stations:

KFSA, Ft. Smith, Arkansas KFSA-TV, Ft. Smith, Arkansas KBRS, Springdale, Arkansas KOCM(FM), Facility ID 33904, Newport Beach, California (April 1981- KEXO, Grand Junction, Colorado KLDR-FM, Grand Junction, Colorado KOLO, Reno, Nevada KOLO-TV, Reno, Nevada KORK, Las Vegas, Nevada KORK-FM, Las Vegas, Nevada KORK-TV, Las Vegas, Nevada KGNS, Laredo, Texas KGNS-TV, Laredo, Texas

Buildings A number of buildings are named for Reynolds, including:

The Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Seminole, Oklahoma The Donald W. Reynolds Community Center & Water Park in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center at Southern Arkansas University The Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium The Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith, Arkansas The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Life Sciences at Hendrix College The Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR The Reynolds Center at Harding University The Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center at the University of Oklahoma, The Donald W. Reynolds Broadcast Center at the College of Southern Nevada, The Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas The Donald W. Reynolds YMCA in Warren, Arkansas The Donald W. Reynolds Alumni Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Technology at Western Nevada College in Carson City, NV The Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno The Donald W. Reynolds Center at the University of Tulsa The Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Poteau, Oklahoma The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock The Donald W. Reynolds Science Center at Henderson State University The Donald W. Reynolds School of Architecture at Oklahoma State University The Donald W. Reynolds Technology Center at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, OK The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture in Washington, DC. The Donald W. Reynolds Emergency Shelter and Recreation building at the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, and The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center at the Mount Vernon estate of George Washington in Virginia The Donald W. Reynolds Library in Mountain Home, Arkansas The Donald W. Reynolds Center at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis, AR The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences on the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro, AR The Donald W Reynolds Community Center and Library in Durant, Oklahoma The Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center at Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas, NV The Donald W. Reynolds Scouting Resource Center in Las Vegas, NV The Smith Center ( Reynolds Hall ) Performing Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Foundation The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation continued his lengthy legacy of charitable giving through 2015, funding programs for capital grants, aging and quality of life, cardiovascular clinical research, and journalism. In accordance with its articles of incorporation, the Foundation was designated to terminate rather than continue in perpetuity. Its board of trustees determined that the foundation would cease to make grants by the year 2022. In fact, the foundation liquidated its assets and closed its doors at the end of 2017.

Awards 1978, The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame 1985, Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement 2000, Arkansas Business Hall of Fame