Donald W. Reynolds

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Donald W. Reynolds (1906-1993) was an American businessman and philanthropist. During his lifetime, he was best known for his involvement in the Donrey Media Group.

[edit] Biography

Reynolds was the son of Gaines W. Reynolds, a wholesale grocery salesman, and his wife, Anna Louise. He grew up in Oklahoma City 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, and he worked during high school and successive summers at a meat packing plant to pay for his studies. 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.

Reynolds died in 1993, and a large sum of money from his business ventures went to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. There are currently a number of buildings named for Reynolds, including the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the D. W. Reynolds building at Hendrix College, the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center at the University of Oklahoma, the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas, Donald W. Reynolds YMCA in Warren, Arkansas, and the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.

[edit] Praise and Criticism

Reynolds was often praised for his visionary business skills, since he bought rural newspapers, helping to keep them in print. However, critics often cite the fact that the Donrey Media Group paid wages lower than industry standards, making it difficult to attract and retain good people. Turnover at Donrey papers tended to be very high.