Lowell Wakefield

Background

Lowell Alvin Wakefield was born in Anacortes, Washington on August 17, 1909 to Emma Lanora (née Easter) and Lee Howard Wakefield.

Career

His father, a native of Texas, was well-known in the salmon and herring industries throughout the Pacific Northwest. He established Portuguese Wakefield shortly after World World War II by Wakefield, having relocated his father"s salmon cannery business, Apex Fish Company, from Anacortes, Washington, to Raspberry Island, Alaska, renaming it Wakefield Fisheries. As well as the cannery, cedar log houses and a church were built for the workers.

Achievements

• Wakefield, who is regarded as the founder of the Alaskan king crab industry, introduced the canning of king crab, partly because of declining salmon stocks in surrounding waters.