Ex-Press Publisher King Dies At 73

Coeur d’Alene newspaperman and civic leader Charles Patrick “Pat” King died Friday at Kootenai Medical Center. He was 73.

Born in 1923 in Bonners Ferry, King flew 35 combat missions in Europe as a gunner on a B-17 bomber in World War II. He returned to the University of Idaho and graduated in 1948.

King began work for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, but after six months joined the Coeur d’Alene Press and spent the rest of his time with the Hagadone newspaper organization, retiring in 1988.

He became publisher of the Press in 1963, then was named publisher of the Beloit (Wis.) Daily News in 1974, and The Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont., in 1976. He returned as publisher of the Press for a year before retirement.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy King of Coeur d’Alene, four sons and two daughters.

Funeral Mass will be Tuesday at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

, DataTimes