FRANK KATHMAN

Publisher, Northwest Passage

PHOTO TAKEN 2005 AT BAY MEADOWS

Northwest Passage was first published March 17, 1969.  It was co-founded by three men --  Frank Kathman, who took the role of Publisher; Laurence Kee, as Managing Editor; and Michael Carlson (now Harman), as Art Director. While the three devoted their full-time energies to the daily running and initial growth of the paper, several members of the Bellingham community made major contributions to the content and character of the publication. 

The Passage stood out from other 'underground' tabloids at the time because of its graphic content.  Frank Kathman had originally been influenced by a college class that he took with Bernard Weiner at Western Washington State College (now University), where the underground press was studied. Later, Kathman and Carlson wrote and designed a recruitment poster that was printed, calling for the founding of the paper. They recruited Kee, who was a reporter for the Bellingham Herald, and the only one of the three with a steady paycheck, so it came down to him to write a check to the Lynden Tribune on March 17, 1969, in order to get the first issue printed. Kee was later fired from the conservative Herald for his involvement with the Passage.

ABOVE FROM WIKIPEDIA