Nick Bez

Nikola Bezmalinović, known as Nick Bez (25 August 1895–1 February 1969), was the founder of fishing, canning, and shipping companies in Juneau, Alaska. He operated the largest fishing ship at the time, the 423 ft. Pacific Explorer. He also owned and operated the Nornek cannery, two gold mines, Alaska Southern Packing Company, Peter Pan Seafoods, Alaska Southern Airways, Pacific Exploration Company and the Intercoastal Packing Company, as well as West Coast Airlines, which became part of Air West. He became known as a "rags to riches" entrepreneur. In 1919, Nikola Bezmalinović changed his name to Nick Bez. Bez died in 1969.