Horizon Air founder Milton Kuolt dies at 79

Published 12:51 pm Friday, May 30, 2008

SEATTLE — Milton Kuolt, a driven Washington state entrepreneur who founded Horizon Air, died Friday. He was 79.

Kuolt’s family says he died at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle from complications related to emphysema.

Kuolt, who was born in India to missionary parents, graduated in 1951 from the then-Central Washington College of Education. He worked his way up from janitor to manager at The Boeing Co., founded the Thousand Trails campground company and started Horizon Air, a regional carrier that was later bought by Alaska Airlines.

He is survived by seven children.