The Cox family owns Cox Enterprises, the media and automotive group founded by James M. Cox in 1898.
James M. Cox, an Ohio newspaper publisher who later became governor of Ohio and the Democratic nominee for president in 1920, established the company after acquiring the Dayton Evening News. The business grew through newspaper publishing before expanding into broadcasting and other industries.
Cox Enterprises is now a privately held company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Its operations have included Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and various media properties. Cox Communications became one of the major U.S. cable and broadband providers, while Cox Automotive developed services such as Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.
The company is sometimes confused with Cox Media Group, which is a major operating division rather than the family name of a separate founding business. The surname Cox also appears in the company’s historical name, reflecting James M. Cox’s role in building the enterprise.