Lamar Advertising Company, which as of 2008 claimed to be the largest US outdoor advertising operator (eg billboards and signage on buses and taxis) traces its origins to acquisition of the Pensacola Advertising Company by Pensacola banker Charles W. Lamar Sr. in 1908.

Lamar listed on NASDAQ in 1996. In 1999 it acquired Chancellor Media's billboard operations for US$1.6 billion, becoming the largest US outdoor advertising company by number of displays. It subsequently acquired a range of competitors.

In 2005 Lamar generated revenues of over US$1 billion for the first time. At that time it had some 3,300 employees at 150 locations in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The group is controlled by the Lamar and Reilly families.

In 2008 Entravision agreed to sell its outdoor advertising operations (Vista Media) to Lamar for US$100 million.

     landmarks

1926 Lamar buys Baton Rouge Poster Advertising Co. (later Lamar Advertising Co. of Baton Rouge)

1996 IPO of Lamar

1996 buys FKM Advertising

1997 buys Penn Advertising

1997 buys Headrick Outdoor

1997 buys McWhorter Advertising

1998 acquires Outdoor Communications Inc for US$490m

1998 Chancellor Media buys US billboard operator Martin Media for US$610m

1998 buys Whiteco Outdoor Advertising for US$930m

1998 Chancellor buys Capstar stations, becomes AMFM Inc radio station chain

1999 sells billboard operations to Lamar for US$1.6bn and 30% stake in Lamar

1999 Clear pays US$23.5bn for AMFM, required to sell AMFM 30% stake in Lamar

2000 Lamar buys Bowlin Outdoor Advertising & Travel Centers for US$27.2

2000 buys PNE Media L.L.C.

2000 buys Victory Outdoor Advertising L.L.C.

2002 buys American Outdoor Advertising from Landmark Communications

2004 buys 611 displays in 19 states from Olympus Advertising

2004 buys Obie Media Corp. (1,100 billboards and advertising space on 38 transit systems) for US$66m








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