Donald W. Reynolds: Arkansas Business Hall of Fame

A media entrepreneur, Donald W. Reynolds created in his lifetime one of the nation's largest privately held media companies, the Donrey Media Group. In 1927, with $1,000 in capital (part of which he borrowed), Reynolds invested in his first business enterprise, a photo engraving plant. From the profits of this venture, he purchased and then sold what was to be his first newspaper, the Quincy Evening News in Massachusetts. Over the next fifty years, Reynolds would buy more than 100 businesses primarily, in the newspaper, radio, television, cable and outdoor advertising industries. His acquisition policy was to find potential in businesses that were located in small, but growth-oriented communities.

Upon his death, a substantial bequest from his estate provided his previously formed charitable foundation with an endowment. In 1996, the Reynolds Foundation awarded the Walton College a grant for $7.4 million to build the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development. The Arkansas Business Hall of Fame is housed there.

 

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