Edward P. Roski

Edward P. Roski, Jr.
Born Edward Philip Roski, Jr.
December 25, 1938
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality American
Ethnicity Polish
Alma mater University of Southern California (B.A. and B.S.)
Occupation Businessman
Known for President of Majestic Realty Co.
Net worth Increase US$ 3.4 billion (March 2014)[1]
Political party
 Republican
Spouse(s) Gayle Garner
Children 3

Edward Phillip Roski, Jr. (born December 25, 1938) is an American real estate businessman in Los Angeles, California. He is the President and Chairman of the Board for Majestic Realty Co.

Biography

Roski was born to a poor, immigrant Polish family[2] in Oklahoma and raised in Southern California. He is a graduate of Loyola High School and the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, where in 1962 he earned a BS degree with emphasis on finance and real estate. He is also a Vietnam veteran and a United States Marine and served as an officer of the Marines from 1962 to 1966. While attending the University of Southern California he was a member of the Gamma Tau Chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. In 1994, Roski was awarded the Oxford Cup, the highest honor a brother of Beta Theta Pi can receive.

Roski is behind an attempt to build a stadium in Industry, California to attract a NFL team.[3] Roski is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. Roski has also been cited in local newspapers as the owner of the Silverton Casino Lodge (formerly known as Boomtown Las Vegas) in Enterprise, Nevada and in 2001 made a substantial offer to buy the former Las Vegas Hilton.[4]

Philanthropy

Roski is a member of the University of Southern California Board of Trustees; he was elected vice-chairman of the board in 2007 and succeeded Stanley Gold as chairman in 2008.[5][6] The USC Roski School of Fine Arts was renamed after Roski's wife, Gayle, following a $23 million donation to the school in 2006.[7] He is also half-owner, with Phillip Anschutz, of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. Roski also has an ownership stake with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He serves on the boards of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Bowers Museum of Cultural Arts, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the L.A. Sports & Entertainment Commission, Loyola High School and the National Geographical Society.[6] Edward and Gayle Roski both received honorary PhDs from the University of Southern California in 2013. His wife Gayle Garner is an artist and serves as chairman of art for the Cathedral of Los Angeles.[8] Roski is also a generous supporter of the Catholic Education Foundation[9][10] and the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Forbes: The World's Billionaires - Edward Roski, Jr. March 2014
  2. ↑ City of Industry: Genealogies of Power in Southern California By Victor Vallein
  3. ↑ Ed Roski and the other Los Angeles NFL stadium idea
  4. ↑ Forbes: "Potential Las Vegas Hilton Buyer Folds His Cards" by Marcella Bernhard January 16, 2001
  5. ↑ Board of Trustees, University of Southern California, Accessed April 13, 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 USC News, Edward P. Roski, Jr. Is Chairman-Designate., Accessed December 12, 2011.
  7. ↑ L.A. Times, Generous boost for USC's art school; Developer Ed Roski and his wife donate $23 million to the university where they met., Accessed December 12, 2011.
  8. ↑ USC Office of Religious Life: "What Matters To Me and Why: Gayle Garner Roski" April 6, 2011
  9. ↑ The Tidings Online: "CEF celebrates 25 years of ‘making a difference’ for youth" June 4, 2013
  10. ↑ The Catholic Education Foundation retrieved March 26, 2014
  11. ↑ Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies: The Elizabeth and Robert Plumleigh Lecture Series retrieved March 26, 2014