Edward P. Roski

Guardian Award for Vision and Leadership
Chairman and CEO, Majestic Realty Co.

Edward P. Roski, Jr. is chairman and chief executive officer of one of the oldest and largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. Ranked as the No. 1 Real Estate Developer in Los Angeles for over fifteen years, Majestic Realty Co. owns, manages, and leases in excess of 70,000,000 sq. ft. of property for clients across the nation.

Mr. Roski is co-owner of the Los Angeles Kings and Lakers. Combining his love of sports with his passion for business, he played a critical role in developing the teams’ new arena. Majestic led the L.A. Arena Company’s efforts to create the STAPLES Center. Now a landmark in Downtown Los Angeles, STAPLES is considered the entertainment capital of the entertainment capital.

A generous philanthropist, Mr. Roski personally commits his time and resources to countless civic organizations throughout Los Angeles. The extensive list includes the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels, March of Dimes, Friends of Child Advocates, Inner City Arts, Boys and Girls Clubs, Public Council, and The City of Hope.

In addition, in 2002 he initiated the Majestic Realty Foundation whose charitable giving and community outreach focuses on Youth, Family, Education, Health, and Violence prevention. The foundation makes grants of over 2 million dollars annually, and was recently ranked in the top ten of all LA county foundations.

He also takes an active role in the city’s cultural and educational development, serving on the boards of Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Bowers Museum, The California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, National Geographic Society, House Ear Institute, and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission. Mr. Roski also serves on the Board of Regents at Loyola High School and as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Southern California.

For his relentless efforts on behalf of the community, he has received numerous awards and civic honors, including: Project Restore’s Los Angeles Heritage Award, for his commitment to the restoration of downtown LA, and the Spirit of Los Angeles Award (Eddy Award) for his civic involvement and dedication. The City of Hope awarded him their prestigious “The Spirit of Life” Award, and he was honored with the Oxford cup by the General Fraternity of Beta Theta Pi. The University of Southern California awarded Mr. Roski the Asa V. Call Award, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the University and to the community by giving generously of their time, energy and leadership.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars honored him with their 2006 Public Service award, and most recently the Los Angeles Business Journal named Mr. Roski the 2007 Businessperson of the Year.

Outside his civic and professional endeavors, Mr. Roski’s great love is travel. His passion for adventure has entitled him membership in the famed Explorers Club. He has climbed to Base Camp at Mt. Everest, K2, and Mt. Kilimanjaro, rode his bike across Mongolia, Russia, and Burma, and has made several deep water dives throughout New Guinea. He also rode in a submersible down to the Titanic. He has traveled to some of most remote reaches of the Globe, and is an avid collector of African and Aboriginal Art.

Ed Roski was born in Oklahoma and raised in Southern California where he graduated from the University of Southern California in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and real estate. He served as an officer in the United State Marines from 1962 to 1966 where he was decorated for bravery with two purple hearts. He now resides in Los Angeles with his wife Gayle Garner Roski, with whom he has three children and five grandchildren.