{"id":"8cf21c8b-fee9-4aa0-9ade-563b6716ac8d","slug":"fred-c-koch","name":"Fred C. Koch","bioBrief":"American chemical engineer and entrepreneur (1900-1967) who founded the oil refinery firm that became Koch Industries. Born in Quanah, Texas, graduated from MIT in 1922 with a chemical engineering degree. Developed an improved thermal cracking process for deriving gasoline from crude oil in 1927, enabling smaller refiners to compete with major oil producers. Co-founded Wood River Oil and Refining Company in 1940, which his son Charles Koch renamed Koch Industries after Fred's death in 1967. The company grew into the second-largest privately held company in the United States. Also co-founded the John Birch Society. Father of Frederick, Charles, David, and William Koch.","priorExits":null,"nationality":"American","verificationPosture":"verified","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koch,_Inc.","name":"Wikipedia","title":"Koch, Inc. — Wikipedia"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_C._Koch","title":"Fred C. Koch","sourceName":"Wikipedia"},{"url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/41077/000119312505225697/dex993.htm","title":"Summary of Koch Industries history","sourceName":"SEC EDGAR"},{"url":"https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/business-and-management/koch-industries","title":"Koch Industries","sourceName":"EBSCO"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-14T22:43:45.513Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-16T17:33:10.188Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"6a44d05f-d9a8-4641-9fc3-fbcbeb01eb71","personId":"8cf21c8b-fee9-4aa0-9ade-563b6716ac8d","companyId":"dbeb1896-16c3-474e-be37-65e0ca5fafe4","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Founder (1900-1967)","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":false,"roleBasis":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-14T22:43:45.901Z","company":{"slug":"koch-industries","name":"Koch, Inc."}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[{"id":"1cbcf512-89c1-406c-99e1-d0e1328fee38","personId":"8cf21c8b-fee9-4aa0-9ade-563b6716ac8d","companyId":"dbeb1896-16c3-474e-be37-65e0ca5fafe4","foundingDate":"1940-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","cofounderStatus":"sole","stillAtCompany":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-16T17:33:48.389Z","company":{"slug":"koch-industries","name":"Koch, Inc."}}]}