In 1898, at just 28 years old, James M. Cox recognized the power of information to connect communities and borrowed $26,000 to purchase the struggling Dayton Evening News. He transformed it into "the people's paper" and expanded into radio and television, building a media empire that spanned Ohio and Georgia. Cox later served as Ohio governor and the 1920 Democratic presidential nominee, but his true legacy became the family business that kept innovating across generations.
Today, Cox Enterprises has evolved from a single newspaper into a global powerhouse with 50,000 employees and $23 billion in revenue. Through major divisions like Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, the company leads in broadband connectivity and automotive technology while expanding into cleantech, healthcare, and digital media. Still privately held by the Cox family, the company remains guided by its founding commitment to "Empower People Today to Build a Better Future for the Next Generation."