Robert E. Lorton

Class of
1996
Robert E. Lorton

Robert E. Lorton

"Bob Lorton has been a great civic, charitable and business leader. He, his family and his corporation have always been an inspiration and willing supporter of all the things believed to be good for the city of Tulsa, the state of Oklahoma and the entire nation. Bob comes from a long line of leaders…”
Harold C. Stuart, 1996

Biography

Robert Lorton is the retired chairman and publisher of World Publishing Company and publisher of the Tulsa World. After graduation from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, he attended Washington and Lee University before graduating from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1964. Beginning in 1959, Lorton served as a reporter, vice president, and secretary/treasurer of the Tulsa World (World Publishing Co.). In 1968, he was named president and in 1988, publisher. In 2013, following seismic changes in the newspaper business, he sold World Publishing Co. to Berkshire Hathaway. As a publisher, philanthropist, and business executive, Lorton has been a leader in many major civic endeavors and also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Lorton’s commitment to the community is evident through his service as trustee of the University of Tulsa and past chairman of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa Authority, Philbrook Museum of Art, the Oklahoma Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the Tulsa Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tulsa Area United Way, and the 1984 United Way fund drive. He is a past director of F&M Bank and Trust Co., Philbrook Museum of Art, Indian Nations Boy Scout Council, Salvation Army, Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, and Tulsa Area United Way. He co-chaired, along with his wife, Roxana, two capital campaigns for the University of Tulsa, New Century, and Embrace the Future. Lorton’s many honors include being named Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Tulsa in 1988, Harweldon Elizabeth Doenges Award recipient in 1995, The University of Tulsa Twyman Award for Outstanding Service recipient in 1996, National Conference for Community and Justice in 1997 and National Jewish Medical Center 100th Anniversary co-honoree. He has received induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1996, the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996, the University of Tulsa Business Hall of Fame in 2000, the University of Tulsa Communication Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Tulsa Hall of Fame.

Fun fact

Robert Lorton served as a reporter, vice president, and secretary/treasurer at the Tulsa World before being named president of World Publishing Company in 1968. In 2006 he was named among the “50 Most Powerful Oklahomans.”

Oklahoma connections

Lorton came to the University of Tulsa as a student in journalism.

Hometown

Tulsa

Profession

Publisher

Presenter

Born

1937

Died

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