Milton Kuolt

Milton Kuolt
Born	Milton G. Kuolt II 1927 India
Died	May 30, 2008 (aged 80) Seattle, Washington, US
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Central Washington University

Milton "Milt" G. Kuolt II was an American entrepreneur, who most notably founded Horizon Air, a Seattle-based regional airline. He also founded Thousand Trails, a chain of private membership campgrounds. He died on May 30, 2008, due to complications from emphysema.^[1]

Early life and education

Kuolt, born in 1927 in India to Christian missionaries, relocated to the United States in 1940. He lived in Missouri and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was voted (in absentia) "Least likely to succeed" by his high school class.^[2] Due to failing grades, Kuolt enlisted in the U.S. Navy before graduating from high school. After serving in the Navy for 18 months, he returned home, enrolling at Central Washington University, then called Central Washington College of Education. He graduated from Central Washington College of Education with a degree in Economics in 1951.

Career

The Boeing Company

Main article: The Boeing Company

Immediately after college graduation, Kuolt began to work at The Boeing Company. Shortly after beginning his career, Kuolt was promoted to a corporate facilities planning and layout position, eventually becoming a business planning manager for the 737 and 747 aircraft program. While at Boeing, he bought and sold real estate to supplement his income.

Thousand Trails

Main article: Thousand Trails

In 1969, after purchasing a 640-acre (260 ha) real estate investment, Kuolt founded Thousand Trails, the first private, members-only RV campground chain. The company's success led Kuolt to resign from Boeing and focus solely on Thousand Trails and other business ventures. Later, in 1981, Kuolt sold his ownership in Thousand Trails for $40 million. Today, the company owns over 80 private campgrounds nationwide and in British Columbia, Canada.

Horizon Air

Main article: Horizon Air

In 1981, the same year that he sold Thousand Trails, Kuolt created Horizon Air. The airline, one of the first regional airlines in the United States, began service on September 1, 1981, from Yakima to Seattle using two Fairchild F27 aircraft. The airline began operation with 36 employees, and went public three years later. In 1987, Horizon Air, which had grown to become the fifth-largest regional airline with service to over 30 cities, was purchased by Alaska Air Group for over $68 million.

References

1. "Life at CB : Milton G. Kuolt II, 1927-2008". Central Washington University. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
2. Richman, Dan (June 3, 2008). "Milton G. Kuolt II 1927-2008: Horizon Air founder put the customer first". SeattlePI.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.