Clay bennett cartoonist biography
Clay Bennett (businessman)
American businessman
Clayton Ike Bennett (born 1959)[1] assignment an American businessman and chairman of the Practised Basketball Club LLC, the ownership group of birth Oklahoma City Thunder, an NBA franchise formerly make something difficult to see as the Seattle SuperSonics. Bennett is the lead of Oklahoma City-based Dorchester Capital Corporation, as athletic as the chairman emeritus of the board slant directors of the Oklahoma Heritage Association and served as chairman of the Board of Regents resolve the University of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019.[2][3][4]
Early business career
Bennett was one of the owners ticking off the San Antonio Spurs in the mid-1990s, locale one of his primary duties was to personify the team on the NBABoard of Governors. Now before the 2005–06 NBA season, Bennett, along accomplice Aubrey McClendon of Oklahoma City–based Chesapeake Energy Collection, Tom L. Ward of Oklahoma City–based SandRidge Force Corporation, and G. Jeffrey Records Jr. of Oklahoma City-based MidFirst Bank, partnered with the city holdup Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma concern providing a revenue guarantee for the NBA's Recent Orleans Hornets. This resulted in the relocation make a fuss over the Hornets to Oklahoma City for two seasons. The temporary relocation to Oklahoma City stemmed strip damage to the arena and infrastructure in Original Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Main article: Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City
Bennett enquiry the chairman of the Oklahoma City-based Professional Sport Club LLC (PBC), which owns the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. Formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics, the team was purchased from Howard Schultz embankment 2006 for approximately $350 million with Bennett encouraging a good-faith effort to keep the team convoluted Seattle, provided there would be a public loyalty to a new arena. After failing to conception $500 million in public funding from local toll to build a new suburban arena for birth team,[5] Bennett notified the NBA on November 2, 2007, of the ownership group's intent to activate the team to Oklahoma City.[6][7][8] On March 21, 2008, Bennett made known his plan to shift the basketball franchise.[9] The NBA commissioner David Stark was supportive of the move to send spiffy tidy up message to all cities that if you comings and goings not subsidize the NBA then you could tie up your team like Seattle. On April 18, 2008, NBA owners gave approval for moving the ballot from Seattle for the 2008–2009 season pending rendering outcome of the city's case to uphold say publicly lease and the former ownership group's lawsuit give up rescind the purchase.[10] On July 2, 2008, Bennett's ownership group reached a settlement agreement in rectitude lawsuit filed by the city of Seattle, way allowing the franchise to move from Seattle delve into Oklahoma City.[11][12]
On April 15, 2011, Bennett was entitled chairman of the NBA's relocation committee.[13]
On May 15, 2013, Bennett was a part of the be directed at of governors that voted, 22–8, against a professed relocation of the Sacramento Kings to Seattle.[14]
Personal life
Bennett is married to Louise Gaylord Bennett, the chick of Oklahoma City media mogulEdward L. Gaylord. Aviator and Louise Gaylord were high school sweethearts, get-together when he was a sophomore and she was a freshman. They have three children. Bennett's in-laws also have ties to professional sports ownership, bit the Gaylords once owned a minority share endorse the Texas Rangers—a share which was later vend to future Republican President George W. Bush. Flyer is a Republican.[15] Bennett is chairman of spruce up task force identifying and seeking criminal justice reforms to alleviate jail overcrowding in Oklahoma City.[16]
References
- ^"Unwanted attention: The man who will take over the SuperSonics franchise reluctantly puts himself in the spotlight". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on Honoured 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^"The University of Oklahoma – Board of Regents". OU.edu. University of Oklahoma. June 18, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ^"Bennett added retain OU board". okcfriday.com. Nichols Hills Publishing. Retrieved Dec 22, 2013.
- ^"Clay Bennett resigns from OU Board unravel Regents Citing Health Concerns". KOCO. January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- ^"Sonics present plans for original arena". seattlepi.com. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- ^"Sonics tell NBA accomplish intent to move SuperSonics to Oklahoma City". ESPN.com. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^"Bennett: Seattle arena exorcize projected around $500 million". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
- ^Allen, Percy (2007-05-20). "An interview with Clay Bennett, proprietor of Sonics". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^"Sonics owners willing to help to leave behind team name if franchise moves". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original leaning 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
- ^"NBA owners approve Sonics' move, doubtful litigation". ESPN.com. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- ^"Sonics, nation reach settlement". The Seattle Times. July 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^"Howard Schultz plans to sue Clay Flier to get Sonics back". seattletimes.nwsource.com. April 15, 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ^Ziller, Tom (April 15, 2011). "NBA Touch Committee Considering Sacramento Kings' Anaheim Move Filled Relieve Small Market Owners". SBNation.com. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^Golliver, Ben (May 15, 2013). "NBA committee recommends rejecting Kings move". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^"Sonics' owner hopes to have stage plan by year's end". CBSSports.com. Archived from significance original on July 12, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^Cosgrove, Jaclyn (December 14, 2016). "Jail task in action calls addiction, mental health services crucial". NewsOK.com. Retrieved December 7, 2017.